美國斯克雷普斯海洋研究所最新發現，南亞上空積聚的褐雲已招致大氣下層的太陽熱能提高50%。
研究員們掌握的調查數據顯示，溫室氣體結合褐雲所帶來的雙重暖化效應，充分證實為世界第3大的喜瑪拉雅冰河在過去半世紀以降融化的原委。
與一般由水氣形成的雲不同，褐雲包含了煤煙、硫酸和硝酸鹽、數百種的有機物質、都市飛塵以及工業與農業製造的原物廢料等汙染粒子。
聯合國環境規劃署長史坦納（Achim Steiner）在了解褐雲研究結果後表示，「人類燃燒石化燃料排放出溫室氣體是導致氣體變遷的主要元兇。」不過在眾多科學家陸續闡明褐雲所帶來的環璄與經濟衝擊之際，彰顯出人類對其嚴重的衝擊效應還有很大的檢討和防治空間。
若人類在此般的危機意識下減少使用石化燃料，或許可以緩和冰河融化的速度，同時降低南亞地區空氣汙染的水準。
Brown clouds of pollution over South Asia have multiplied solar heating of the lower atmosphere by 50 percent, finds new research by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The combined heating effect of greenhouse gases and the brown clouds is necessary and sufficient to account for the retreat of Himalayan glaciers observed over the past 50 years, the researchers conclude.
Brown clouds contain soot, sulfates, nitrates, hundreds of organic compounds, and fly ash from urban, industrial and agricultural sources.
Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said, "The main cause of climate change is the buildup of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. But brown clouds, whose environmental and economic impacts are beginning to be unraveled by scientists, are complicating and in some cases aggravating their effects."
By burning less fossil fuels, South Asia may be able to arrest the glaciers' retreat and reduce regional air pollution at the same time.
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