The Atmospheric Brown Cloud Effect

Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABCs) are regional layers of air pollution composed of aerosols
like black carbon, sulfates, and dust, primarily from fossil fuel and biomass combustion.
These clouds absorb and scatter sunlight, causing surface dimming while heating the
atmosphere—disrupting the Earth’s energy balance. ABCs exacerbate global warming by
interacting with greenhouse gases and accelerating glacial melt, especially in the
Himalayas. They also alter monsoon patterns and reduce agricultural yields. Mitigating
short-lived climate pollutants in ABCs—like black carbon and methane-- is estimated could
reduce global warming by up to 0.5°C by 2050.

RSVP dTNhY29ja2J1cm4gfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ==