- By-the-Clouds-0.mp3
- By-the-Clouds-0.mp4
- By-the-Clouds-I.mp3
- By-the-Clouds-I.mp4
- By-the-Clouds-II.mp3
- By-the-Clouds-II.mp4
- By-the-Clouds-III.mp3
- By-the-Clouds-III.mp4
- By-the-Clouds-Reggae.mp3
- By-the-Clouds-Reggae.mp4
- By-the-Clouds-space-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Until the sun….
Is obscured…
By the clouds
[Verse 1]
I dunno (albedo)
Oh, no, no, no
The scattering
(The fracturing)
Absorption
(Disruption)
[Bridge]
Would you mind moving on
(Obscuration over my situation)
It’s like a dark cloud hanging over me….
(Oh, please let me see)
[Chorus]
See the light
(See delight)
Shining bright
(In the light)
Gain insight
(Into the light)
In… to the light
[Outro]
See the light
(See delight)
Shining bright
(In the light)
[Verse 2]
I’ve come to know (albedo)
Oh, whoa, woe oh
The phenomenon
(Carries on and on and on)
Throwing shade on my sun
(Rain on my parade)
Throwing shade….
[Bridge]
Would you mind moving on
(Obscuration over my situation)
It’s like a dark cloud hanging over me….
(Oh, please let me see)
[Chorus]
See the light
(See delight)
Shining bright
(In the light)
Gain insight
(Into the light)
In… to the light
[Bridge]
I’d love to see
(… see clearly)
Would you mind moving on
(Obscuration over my situation)
It’s like a dark cloud hanging over me….
(Oh, please let me see)
Kindly, move out of the way
(And, then…)
[Break]
Hey!
(Stay)
Out of the way
[Chorus]
In the light
(I can see)
… see clearly
See the light
(See delight)
Shining bright
(In the light)
Gain insight
(Into the light)
In… to the light
[Outro]
In the light
(I can see)
… see clearly
A SCIENCE NOTE
The sun is obscured by clouds due to the scattering and absorption of sunlight as it passes through the cloud layers. Clouds are composed of tiny water droplets or ice crystals that scatter sunlight in various directions. This scattering reduces the amount of direct sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface, causing the sun to appear dimmed or hidden. Thick clouds, such as those in storm systems, can absorb and block most of the light, resulting in complete or near-complete obscuration of the sun. The extent to which the sun is obscured depends on the cloud type, thickness, and density.
The phenomenon also relates to the concept of albedo, which is the fraction of sunlight that is reflected by a surface. In the case of clouds, their albedo is typically high, meaning they reflect a significant portion of incoming sunlight, further reducing the amount that reaches the Earth’s surface. This can lead to cooler temperatures on cloudy days compared to clear days.
In contrast, lighter or thinner clouds may only partially obscure the sun, allowing some sunlight to filter through, creating overcast skies or diffused light. This is why a cloudy day often feels cooler and less bright than a clear day, even though the sun is technically still in the sky.
Water Vapor
The overarching feedback loop is water vapor. Human-induced CO2 emissions warm the Earth, allowing the air to hold more water vapor. Water vapor, a greenhouse gas, amplifies warming, creating a recurring cycle… rinse (sorry!) and repeat. Another interesting thing is that the precipitation (rain, snow, sleet) intensity is increasing. A Harder Rain is Falling and The Reign of Violent Rain examine a combination of feedback loops created by water vapor.
Feedback Loop Examples
- Ice-Albedo Feedback:
- Mechanism: As ice and snow melt due to global warming, darker surfaces (such as open water or bare ground) are exposed.
- Effect: Dark surfaces absorb more sunlight, increasing heat absorption and further warming the area. This leads to more ice melt, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.
- Water Vapor Feedback:
- Mechanism: Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, leading to higher water vapor content in the atmosphere.
- Effect: Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, contributing to the greenhouse effect. As the atmosphere warms due to increased greenhouse gases, it can hold more moisture, amplifying warming.
- Permafrost Thawing Feedback:
- Mechanism: As global temperatures rise, permafrost (frozen soil in polar regions) thaws, releasing stored carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere.
- Effect: The release of greenhouse gases from permafrost contributes to further warming, leading to more permafrost thaw and additional greenhouse gas emissions.
- Vegetation Loss and Carbon Cycle Feedback:
- Mechanism: Deforestation and land-use changes reduce the amount of vegetation that acts as a carbon sink, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
- Effect: With less vegetation, the ability to absorb CO2 is reduced, leading to increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This contributes to further warming and can create a positive feedback loop.
- Brown Carbon Feedback:
- Mechanism: Brown carbon, light-absorbing organic carbon with a low albedo, is deposited on ice, snow, or permafrost.
- Effect: Brown carbon absorbs more heat, accelerating ice melt and permafrost thaw. This releases more sequestered carbon and methane into the atmosphere, contributing to further warming.
- Forest Fires and Carbon Release Feedback:
- Mechanism: Climate change leads to more extreme weather conditions and increased lightning, which can ignite forest fires.
- Effect: Forest fires release stored carbon into the atmosphere in the form of CO2. More fires contribute to more carbon release, creating a positive feedback loop.
In conclusion, feedback loops, intertwined with tipping points, are integral to the acceleration of climate change. Understanding and mitigating these feedback loops are imperative to addressing the urgent challenges posed by accelerated global warming. Identifying and understanding tipping points is crucial for climate science and policymaking. Crossing multiple tipping points could lead to the Domino Effect, resulting in a much more rapid and severe climate change than currently projected.