In 2023, record-breaking warming was linked to a global decline in Earth’s ability to reflect sunlight, caused by reduced low-level cloud cover (Goessling et al.). The exact cause of the reduced cover remains unclear, but a team of analysts led by Anastassia Makarieva suggests that disruptions in global biospheric functioning could be a contributing factor, noting the significant drop in cloud cover over the word’s great forests, as seen below. “The good news is that the recent extra warmth could wane if the forests partially self-recover. With the many unknowns remaining, we urge more integrative thinking and emphasize the importance of urgently curbing forest exploitation to stabilize both the climate and the biosphere.”
Posted: February 10, 2025