Aerosol pollutants have masked the effects of global warming. Without them, the U.S. is about to get a lot wetter.
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here. The past half-century has seen remarkable improvements in air quality in many parts of the world, thanks largely to legislation like the U.S. Clean Air Act. Efforts like these took aim at pollutants like the group of chemicals known as aerosols, which include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other compounds that are harmful to human health.
Aerosols are more complicated: They react differently with different types of clouds, and as a result their impact on rainfall varies from region to region and from season to season. In most of the U.S., they made things drier. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act in 1970 caused a rapid decline in aerosol pollution as factories installed “scrubber” devices to clean up their smokestacks and automakers updated their cars to comply with emission limits.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Live storm updates: Some schools remain closed Tuesday as 85K still without power in Bay AreaA number of schools in Sonoma County will remain closed Tuesday due to power loss and storm-related issues. Here's the latest.
Read more »
At downtown protest, parents press Chicago Public Schools to provide ‘immediate’ relief to families without busingIn a downtown protest, parents demanded busing for the 5,500 students who’d been promised transportation when enrolling in district magnet and selective enrollment schools.
Read more »
Live blog: No normalisation with Israel without Palestinian state — RiyadhIsrael's war on Gaza — now in its 124th day — has killed at least 27,585 Palestinians and wounded 66,978 others, as PM Benjamin Netanyahu says will continue the war on Gaza until 'total victory'.
Read more »
'None of These Candidates' Beats Haley in Nevada Primary Without TrumpSee multiple perspectives from The Hill, Associated Press, and Fox News (Online News) at AllSides.com.
Read more »
'Shockingly, this plane was delivered without the bolts': Local attorney reacts to Boeing NTSB reportIt's been one month since a door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 with more than 170 people on board.
Read more »
AOC Says GOP’s Mayorkas Impeachment Attempt Is “Craven and Without Merit”“There is absolutely no evidence for an impeachable offense. It is completely politicized,” she said.
Read more »