An experiment assesses the effect of microplastics on atmospheric warming
Colored microplastics and nanoplastics suspended in the atmosphere could contribute to global warming at a level equivalent to 16% of that caused by soot. The findings, published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggest that these particles may be previously unrecognized contributors to climate change, and that their role should be taken into account in future climate assessments. The authors note that laboratory experiments are a simplified version of atmospheric processes and that the global distribution of microplastic and nanoplastic particles must be determined more precisely through observations.
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