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.
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.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Sep 2026
Research article |
| 04 Sep 2026
| 04 Sep 2026
Planetary albedo change exacerbates surface warming: a perspective from cloud-type changes
Ruixue Li
Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Jiming Li
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Bida Jian
Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Lijie Zhang
Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 9017–9036, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9017-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9017-2026, 2026
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Our observations show that both local dust and dust carried over long distances can increase the number of particles that help form ice in clouds. Polluted air held fewer such particles and appears to weaken the ability of dust to initiate ice formation. In semi-arid cities, larger particles in the 1–2.5 µm range strongly indicate how many of these ice-forming particles are present. Understanding how different particles behave is essential for representing cloud glaciation and regional climate.
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A key challenge in climate projections is the uncertainty in cloud water response to aerosols, especially from unclear diurnal microphysical-dynamical mechanisms. Geostationary satellite shows that neglecting the diurnal variations leads to an underestimation (up to 89 %) of the cooling effect induced by changes in cloud albedo due to aerosol perturbations. The results provide new insights in aerosol-cloud interactions, verifying this is a significant yet often overlooked source of uncertainty.
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Hemispheric or interannual averages of reflected solar radiation (RSR) can mask signals from seasonally active or region-specific mechanisms. We examine RSR characteristics from latitude and month perspectives, revealing decreased trends observed by CERES in both hemispheres driven by clear-sky atmospheric and cloud components at 30–50° N and cloud components at 0–50° S. AVHRR achieves symmetry criteria within uncertainty and is suitable for the long-term analysis of hemispheric RSR symmetry.
Yuxin Zhao, Jiming Li, Deyu Wen, Yarong Li, Yuan Wang, and Jianping Huang
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This study identifies deep convection systems (DCSs), including deep convection cores and anvils, over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and tropical Indian Ocean (TO). The DCSs over the TP are less frequent, showing narrower and thinner cores and anvils compared to those over the TO. TP DCSs show a stronger longwave cloud radiative effect at the surface and in the low-level atmosphere. Distinct aerosol–cloud–precipitation interaction is found in TP DCSs, probably due to the cold cloud bases.
Honglin Pan, Jianping Huang, Jiming Li, Zhongwei Huang, Minzhong Wang, Ali Mamtimin, Wen Huo, Fan Yang, Tian Zhou, and Kanike Raghavendra Kumar
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1185–1207, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1185-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1185-2024, 2024
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We applied several correction procedures and rigorously checked for data quality constraints during the long observation period spanning almost 14 years (2007–2020). Nevertheless, some uncertainties remain, mainly due to technical constraints and limited documentation of the measurements. Even though not completely accurate, this strategy is expected to at least reduce the inaccuracy of the computed characteristic value of aerosol optical parameters.
Yuxin Zhao, Jiming Li, Lijie Zhang, Cong Deng, Yarong Li, Bida Jian, and Jianping Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 743–769, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-743-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-743-2023, 2023
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Diurnal variations of clouds play an important role in the radiative budget and precipitation. Based on satellite observations, reanalysis, and CMIP6 outputs, the diurnal variations in total cloud cover and cloud vertical distribution over the Tibetan Plateau are explored. The diurnal cycle of cirrus is a key focus and found to have different characteristics from those found in the tropics. The relationship between the diurnal cycle of cirrus and meteorological factors is also discussed.
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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.
Using satellite radiation observations and a surface energy framework, we show that recent cloud...
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