Global dimming

Global dimming is when the Earth's atmosphere gets dirtier because of things like pollution or volcanic eruptions. This dirty air blocks some of the sunlight from reaching the Earth's surface. When there is less sunlight on the Earth's surface, it can make everything look less bright and shiny.

Think about going outside on a really cloudy day. The clouds block some of the sunlight from the sun, making everything look a bit darker and gloomier than on a sunny day. This is a type of global dimming.

When we burn things like fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), it puts dirty particles into the air. These particles can also be called "aerosols." They float around in the Earth's atmosphere and can block the sunlight from reaching the Earth's surface.

Scientists have been studying global dimming for a long time to understand how it can affect the Earth's climate. If there is less sunlight on the Earth's surface, it can also affect things like rainfall patterns, which can cause changes in ecosystems and agriculture.

Ways to reduce global dimming and pollution include using cleaner sources of energy like solar and wind power, reducing the amount of driving done, and making sure factories and other sources of pollution are using technologies that keep the air cleaner.