A new research, led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), suggested that the COVID-19-induced lockdowns and reduced social engagements impacted emissions of pollutants, slightly making the planet warmer.The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, presented counter-intuitive findings that noted the influence of airborne particles, or aerosols, that block incoming sunlight. When emissions of aerosols dropped last spring, more of the Sun's warmth reached the planet, especially in heavily industrialized nations. This includes the United States and Russia, which normally pump high amounts of aerosols into the atmosphere. The study found that temperatures over parts of Earth's land surface last spring were about 0.2-0.5℉ (0.1-0.3°C) warmer than would have been expected with prevailing weather conditions. The study revealed that while aerosols tend to brighten clouds and reflect heat from the Sun back into space, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have the opposite effect, trapping heat near the planet's surface and elevating temperatures.
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