Publication: New Atlas

UCLA Expert: Jasper Kok: Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences;  Member, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Synopsis: In people’s daily lives, dust is little more than a nuisance to be wiped away. On a global scale however, dust carried around the world on air currents has an impact on planetary temperatures. A new study shows that this dust could be masking the true impact of greenhouse gasses on climate change and that a shift in the dust quantity could lead to a sudden, albeit small, spike in worldwide temperatures.

UCLA News: According to UCLA researchers, until now, dust’s balance sheet has remained unsettled; it’s never been clear if it has a net cooling or heating effect on global temps. To try to sort out its true climate impact, the researchers measured the amount of dust circulating around the planet using data from satellites and ground samples. They found that the amount of dust in our atmosphere has been steadily increasing over time. In fact, the study carried out by the research team showed that the amount of desert dust circulating through the air is equal to 26 million tons, which is a 55% increase from the mid-1800, masking up to 8% of the warming caused by greenhouse gasses. According to study's lead author, Kok, the true value in finally determining atmospheric dust's impact on planetary temperatures lies in factoring it – and its potential loss – into existing climate models.

Read more at New Atlas.