Funky Winkerbean said:
Bunkhouse96 said:
Wasn't there a study that showed that while clouds did block some solar radiation, it also block heat from radiating off the planet as well, like a blanket, and resulted in a net heat gain as the the cloud still absorbed the solar radiation hearing the air in the atmosphere while reflecting the trapped heat back.
Don't need a study. The coldest nights after a cold front are when the clear skies move in. Lack of clouds allows more ground heat to escape and the temperature falls further. This is common knowledge to people that follow the weather closely.
That is weather. Does the cold air escaping the ground on a clear day escape the atmosphere, which would effect global patterns?
Clouds do help keep the ground warmer, but as a global system, clouds have a net cooling effect on the planet by reflecting more sunlight out which means the ground absorbs less heat. The giant burning thing at the center of the solar system is an external system to the planet. Clouds effect local weather as a more closed system. As an open system, reflecting the sun light is a bigger deal.
This is good, because the models usually do show a warmer climate will have more clouds, which will act as a feedback system to cool the planet and maintain a steadier temperature. It amazes me that people continually think that the earth has no feedback systems that have been working for eons to balance our climate and that we are suddenly going to throw is so far out of whack in a short (geologically speaking) time frame that it will never balance itself out.
