Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Aerosols (like sulphates and nitrates) trap heat and warm the Earth.
2.The absence of aerosols allows greenhouse gases to cause rapid warming.
3.Aerosols influence rainfall patterns.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanations –
Statement 1 is incorrect. Aerosols like sulphates and nitrates primarily have a cooling effect on the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space and increasing cloud reflectivity.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Aerosols mask the warming effect of greenhouse gases by cooling the atmosphere. When aerosol concentrations decrease, the cooling effect diminishes, allowing greenhouse gases to cause rapid warming. Aerosols affect rainfall patterns by altering cloud properties, reducing droplet sizes, and prolonging cloud lifetimes.
Source: The Hindu
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