Airborne desert dust may warm climate far more than expected, new analysis shows

Airborne desert dust may warm climate far more than expected, new analysis shows

Atmospheric dust plays a dual role in Earth's climate: it reflects some sunlight back into space while also absorbing and retaining the planet's heat like an insulating blanket. But while dust likely cools the planet overall, that's not the whole story. New UCLA research shows that the heat-trapping effect of airborne desert dust in the atmosphere is about twice as big as previously believed.

Desert Dust Traps Twice as Much Heat as Climate Models Have Assumed

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 29, 2026 New research from UCLA shows that airborne desert dust traps roughly twice as much heat in the atmosphere as most climate models have estimated, a finding that could sharpen both short-term weather forecasts and long-term climate projections. Lead researcher Jasper Kok, a UCLA professor in the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, said the heat-trapping effect of dust is equal to

Environmental News Network - Better Weather Forecasts and Climate Models Could Come From New Desert-Dust Research

Atmospheric dust plays a dual role in Earth’s climate: it reflects some sunlight back into space while also absorbing and retaining the planet’s heat like an insulating blanket.

UCLA Study Finds Dust Warms Climate More Than Expected

UCLA-led research finds dust traps about +0.25 W/m² — ~10% of CO2 warming — suggesting models undercount coarse dust and forecasts could improve.

New Desert-Dust Research Promises Improved Weather Forecasts and Climate

Atmospheric Dust: A Dual Role in Earth’s Climate Unveiled with New Insights from UCLA Research Recent groundbreaking research conducted by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reveals that atmospheric dust plays a much more significant role in Earth’s climate system than previously understood. While airborne dust particles have long been recognized as agents that reflect sunlight and thus contribute to a modest cooling …