Asian Air Pollution Intensifying Pacific Storms: Weather Patterns Impacted

Air pollution may be doing more than just impacting your health. It turns out that Asian air pollution may be intensifying Pacific storms. The findings have huge implications for the future of extreme weather events, and show that the Earth truly is an interconnected system.

In order to find out how air pollution might affect the rest of the world, the researchers examined detailed pollution emission data compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They then looked at two scenarios: one for a rate in 1850 and one for a rate in 2000. The researchers then compared the results from a global climate model.

"There appears to be little doubt that these particles from Asia affect storms sweeping across the Pacific and subsequently the weather patterns in North America and the rest of the world," said Renyi Zhang, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The climate model is quite clear on this point. The aerosols formed by human activities from fast-growing Asian economies do impact storm formation and global air circulation downstream. They tend to make storms deeper and stronger and more intense, and these storms also have more precipitation in them. We believe this is the first time that a study has provided such a global perspective."

This isn't the first time that researchers have noted that pollution can affect climate. In recent years, scientists have found that atmospheric aerosols can affect environmental conditions by scattering or absorbing solar radiation. They can also indirectly alter cloud formations. Not only that, but large amounts of aerosols can actually be seen on satellite images during their long-term journey from Asia across the Pacific.

"Our results support previous findings that show that particles in the air over Asia tend to affect global weather patterns," said Zhang in a news release. "It shows they can affect the Earth's weather significantly."

The findings reveal the importance of enacting legislation that controls air pollution levels. As places like China continue to have their air pollution levels rise, it's crucial to take steps now to avoid future consequences.

The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.