Global Dimming

By Arvind Kishor

Global Dimming is the process by which Sun’s radiation on Earth’s surface gradually
decreases because of all the cloud cover, which increases albedos and therefore cools the
Earth. This is an argument that is not yet as popular as global warming, otherwise known as
climate change, which leads many people to believe that overall Earth is getting warmer; when
there are actually hard facts on the other side as well. Global Dimming introduces a new
perspective which suggests cooling of the Earth because of increasing cloud. Cloud cover is
increasing because of the emission and water vapour levels rising to form thicker clouds that
cover up more of Earth’s surface. This causes to reflect more sunlight and cool the Earth. There
is another factor that plays a big part in Global Dimming, but it mainly occurs over oceans and
seas. This other factor is the pollution particles released from the industries in the sky, which
then combine with water droplets and precipitate as acidic rain. Normally, without these
pollution particles, the droplets of water are bigger and they tend to reflect less sunlight
compare to smaller ones. Now these pollution particles released in the air combine with the
water droplets in the clouds, making water droplets smaller. This means more sunlight is going
to be reflected and less sunlight will be absorbed by the Earth, making the Earth even cooler.
Now the increasing of cloud cover and smaller water droplets definitely causes the Earth to cool
and the cooling could very much likely end up in a positive feedback loop, where Earth just
becomes cooler and cooler and cooler. Cooling of Earth would mean that ice age will come
sooner than it would have if all these emissions were not in the atmosphere. Also, since
temperatures will decline the death of many species will increase drastically because they
would not be able to adopt the changing environment. Not only would the population of
animals decrease, but also plants would start to die as well because of harsh weather and
decrease in sunlight. We all know if plants die then, it would mean more carbon dioxide and
less of oxygen. If the oxygen keeps decreasing then all living things start to die, even humans. In
conclusion, Global Dimming is gradual reduce in the amount of sunlight on Earth’s surface,
which would bring ice age and harsh climates making it so difficult for living things to survive.