Overview
- A peer-reviewed paper in Nature Climate Change estimates that micro- and nanoplastics in the air add about 0.039 watts per square meter of warming, or roughly 16% of soot's effect and far less than greenhouse gases.
- Labor tests showed that dark-colored plastic fragments absorb far more sunlight than clear pieces of the same material.
- Smaller particles were found to scatter and absorb more short-wave light, which increases heat in the surrounding air.
- Modeling indicates regional spikes, with values over large ocean garbage patches reaching about 0.282 watts per square meter and potential hot spots near dense cities from tire wear.
- Scientists welcome the first global estimate but say atmospheric measurements are scarce and methods conflict, and they note possible cloud effects are even less understood, so they call for expanded monitoring before policy moves.