Wildfire Smoke Cloud Research Improves Climate Predictions
A new study on biomass-burning aerosols shows that smoke from wildfires has more of a cooling effect than most recent climate models have suggested. The findings will help scientists to more accurately predict the effect of wildfires — such as Australia's recent bushfire crisis — on the climate. Comparing climate predictions to real data Wildfires release biomass-burning aerosols into the atmosphere which are characterized by the resulting smoke clouds that can be seen a long distance away from the source. The composition, size, and mixing state of biomass-burning aerosols determine the ...