Planetary albedo change exacerbates surface warming: a perspective from cloud-type changes

Li, Ruixue; Li, Jiming; Jian, Bida; Zhang, Lijie; Li, Jiayi

doi:10.5194/acp-26-12591-2026

Articles | Volume 26, issue 17

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-12591-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-12591-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 26, issue 17

Research article

|

04 Sep 2026

Research article |

| 04 Sep 2026

Planetary albedo change exacerbates surface warming: a perspective from cloud-type changes

Ruixue Li, Jiming Li, Bida Jian, Lijie Zhang, and Jiayi Li

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-12591-2026-supplement

Data sets

orcing, Cloud Feedbacks, Cloud Masking, and Internal Variability in the Cloud Radiative Effect Satellite Record (Data) S. P. Raghuraman et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7623726

ERA5 monthly averaged data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.6860a573

ERA5 monthly averaged data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.f17050d7

MERRA-2 tavgM_2d_aer_Nx: 2d, monthly mean, time-averaged, single-level, assimilation, aerosol diagnostics V5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) https://doi.org/10.5067/FH9A0MLJPC7N

CERES Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) Ed4.2.1 NASA/LARC/SD/ASDC https://ceres-tool.larc.nasa.gov/ord-tool/jsp/EBAF421Selection.jsp

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Short summary

Using satellite radiation observations and a surface energy framework, we show that recent cloud changes weakly affect global mean warming but strongly modulate regional warming, enhancing warming in low- and mid-latitudes while mitigating it in polar regions. This effect is driven by changes from low- and mid-level clouds to high-level thin clouds, reducing planetary albedo and weakening longwave emission, with distinct controls in the two hemispheres.