Working Science: The Science of Clouds and Climate

Clouds are a major concern for climate science because there are still many unknowns about their two important functions. Certain types of clouds tend to reflect incoming sunlight back into space. Other types trap the CO2 that is accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere. The Cizczo Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a prominent role in the study of the particles (aerosols) that form clouds and the different conditions that affect the function of clouds in the global climate system.