Harmful emissions and air pollution to blame for drought and flooding

A new study by researchers in the US and Israel has found that increases in air pollution and other particulate matter can strongly affect cloud development, it has been reported by Nature Geoscience.

Air pollutants, such as those from aerosols, can alter cloud density and the radiative balance of the atmosphere which leads to changes in cloud microphysics and atmospheric stability. The effects on cloud development can reduce precipitation in cool and dry regions; while increasing rain and the intensity of storms in warm and moist regions.

Many developing regions that are prone to floods and droughts will be particularly interested by the discoveries, particularly after the confrontations at the Durban conference at the end of 2011.

The increase of manufacturing and the building of power plants and other industrial developments have also been found to have an adverse impact on the weather through increased air pollution, but economic factors have made it difficult for many countries to cut back on harmful pollutants.