Ok this is an idiot question but how does the global average temperature change so much over the course of a year. Is the northern hemisphere warmer overall during its summer compared to the southern hemisphere in its summer?

[–] Spedwell@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

There is a theory based around how ocean tankers' exhaust historically included sulfates, which can actually seed cloud formation.

Recent emissions regulations reduced this effect, so fewer clouds are being seeded over the ocean, and the oceans are absorbing more sunlight and heating more.

So we were basically painting large swaths of reflective clouds over the oceans, masking the heating. And now we're seeing unencumbered heating effects.

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