Earth's clouds are shrinking, boosting global warming

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Recent studies indicate that global cloud cover is decreasing, with a reported decline of about 1.5% per decade, which could significantly exacerbate climate change. This change has been observed over nearly 25 years using data from NASA's Terra satellite. Climate scientists, including Bjorn Stevens from the Max Planck Institute, emphasize that these apparently small changes are critical as they could indicate a potent cloud feedback mechanism impacting global temperatures. The reduction in cloud coverage means less reflection of sunlight, leading to increased warming, which in turn may intensify extreme weather events like hurricanes. With climate change already in motion, there are concerns about the planet's future and potential tipping points that could lead to catastrophic scenarios, such as increased algal blooms due to warmer waters. Discussions have emerged regarding the need for further funding for climate research and potential geoengineering solutions such as cloud seeding; however, doubts remain about the effectiveness and scale required to make a difference.
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