Columbia University Researchers Uncover Mechanism Behind CO2-Induced Stratospheric Cooling
Researchers at Columbia University have identified the mechanism by which carbon dioxide (CO2) cools the Earth's upper atmosphere while warming the surface. This phenomenon, recognized as a signal of human-driven climate change, involves CO2 interacting with different wavelengths of light. In the stratosphere, CO2 absorbs infrared energy and releases it into space, leading to cooling. This effect, predicted in the 1960s, has resulted in a 2-degree Celsius drop in stratospheric temperatures since the mid-1980s. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, highlights the 'Goldilocks zone' of infrared light, where CO2's cooling efficiency is maximized. 
