Earth’s dimming mirror: cloud contraction and the rise of albedo governance

[Geoengineering News]

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ae8a67

Authors: Gianni Bellocchi, Vinay Kumar, Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist and Nazzareno Diodato

22 July 2026

DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ae8a67

Abstract

Earth has reflected progressively less solar radiation since the start of the satellite era (1979), amplifying the planetary energy imbalance. Satellite analyses attribute the trend primarily to circulation-driven contraction of reflective cloud regimes, whereas process-based studies emphasize surface reflectivity changes. We argue that these perspectives are dynamically linked: as cloud cover contracts, diminishing atmospheric masking elevates the realized climatic leverage of surface albedo. This coupling makes surface reflectivity an increasingly important and manageable regulator of solar absorption under clearer-sky conditions. We propose an integrated governance framework that explicitly incorporates albedo management alongside carbon management.

Source: IOP Science 

[Jessica Gurevitch]

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