Cloud height determines whether clouds have a warming or cooling effect on climate
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 78/100
Cloud height is a critical factor in determining whether clouds exert a net warming or cooling effect on the Earth's climate, with high clouds generally trapping outgoing longwave radiation (warming) and low clouds reflecting incoming solar radiation (cooling).
Evidence for · 3
Quantification of the radiative forcing of contrails embedded in cirrus clouds.
2025 · cited by 2
Demonstrates that high-altitude cirrus clouds exert a warming effect by trapping longwave radiation.
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More for · 2
Trends in vertical wind velocity variability reveal cloud microphysical feedback.
2025 · cited by 1
Discusses how low-level clouds have a cooling radiative impact, illustrating the dependency of climate effect on cloud type and height.
Cirrus cloud radiative effect on surface-level shortwave and longwave irradiances at regional and global scale
2009 · cited by 1
Shows that high-altitude cirrus clouds produce distinct shortwave cooling and longwave warming components that vary by height and optical properties.