Cleaner Ship Fuel Is Quietly Changing Clouds Over the Atlantic

Cleaner Ship Fuel Is Quietly Changing Clouds Over the Atlantic

A sudden shift in global shipping routes created an accidental large-scale experiment that allowed scientists to observe how cleaner ship fuel alters cloud formation. Their analysis showed a dramatic drop in cloud-forming particles, confirming that cleaner fuel makes ships far less capable of brightening clouds and temporarily cooling the planet. Shipping Disruptions Spark an Unexpected [...]

When trade routes shift, so do clouds: FSU researchers uncover ripple effects of new global shipping regulations

By Holden Grace Wilkins, FSU News When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic. But for Florida State University atmospheric scientist Michael Diamond, the rerouting of cargo ships offered a rare opportunity to clarify a pressing climate question — How much do cleaner fuels change how clouds form? Michael Diamond is an assistant professor in FSU’s De…

When trade routes shift, so do clouds: Researchers uncover ripple effects of new global shipping regulations

When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic. But for Florida State University atmospheric scientist Michael Diamond, the rerouting of cargo ships offered a rare opportunity to clarify a pressing climate question-How much do cleaner fuels change how clouds form?

New regulations on ship fuel spark significant changes in cloud formation

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 21, 2025 Florida State University researchers discovered that disruptions in shipping lanes due to militia attacks in the Red Sea led to cargo ships being rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope, which altered cloud formation in the South Atlantic. This offered a chance to study the effects of cleaner marine fuels on cloud characteristics. Atmospheric scientist Michael Diamond and graduate student Li

When Trade Routes Shift, So Do Clouds: Florida State University Researchers Uncover Ripple Effects of New Global Shipping Regulations

Newswise — When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic. But for Florida State University atmospheric scientist Michael Diamond, the rerouting of cargo ships offered a rare opportunity to clarify a pressing climate question — How much do cleaner fuels change how clouds form?  In research published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Diamond and FSU …

When Trade Routes Shift, So Do Clouds: Florida State University Researchers Uncover Ripple Effects of New Global Shipping Regulations

When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic. But for Florida State University atmospheric scientist Michael Diamond, the rerouting of cargo ships offered a rare opportunity to clarify a pressing climate question — How much do cleaner fuels change how clouds form?