Invisible Mirrors

Climate change isn’t driven by gases alone. Tiny particles in the air quietly shape how much energy reaches the planet.

In this episode of The Climate Translation, Dr. Mac explores aerosols: microscopic particles that can cool or warm the Earth by reflecting sunlight or absorbing heat. From volcanic eruptions that temporarily dim the planet, to soot that accelerates ice melt, to aircraft contrails that subtly trap heat, these “invisible mirrors” play an outsized role in the climate system.

This episode explains how aerosols differ from greenhouse gases, why their effects are short-lived but powerful, and why cleaning up air pollution can briefly reveal warming that was already there. Understanding aerosols helps clarify year-to-year climate variability, and why long-term warming is still driven by greenhouse gases.

CC0 Music from Charles Korpics - I want to Live! (Again)