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Health & Science4h 33m ago

A new study indicates that for about two days after pollution fills the air, the atmosphere may warm instead of cool, challenging prior assumptions.

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Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Who
Professor Guy Dagan of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
What
A new study indicates that for about two days after pollution fills the air, the atmosphere may warm instead of cool, challenging prior assumptions.
When
Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:59:00 GMT · 4h 33m ago
Where
Hebrew University of Jerusalem ·
Why
This short-term heating appears to be tied to cloud changes where rising particle levels reduce light rain, push more water higher into the atmosphere, and promote additional ice and high-altitude clouds, which then trap heat.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This finding complicates climate forecasting by suggesting that aerosols, previously thought to primarily cool the atmosphere, can cause an initial warming phase due to cloud interactions, potentially altering how the climate impact of pollution events is estimated.

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