Category
Atmospheric Science
Explore the 3 entries currently assigned to this category. These counts describe this curated catalogue, not the size or rate of change of the field itself.
At a glance
What this category contains
Explore the entries
Browse Atmospheric Science
Filter the category, choose how entries are grouped, and change the ordering without leaving the page.
Showing all 3 entries
Not a fact anymore
Equilibrium climate sensitivity to doubled atmospheric CO₂ is likely between 1.5°C and 4.5°C.
What we know now
Equilibrium climate sensitivity estimates how much the planet would eventually warm after atmospheric CO₂ doubled and the climate had time to adjust. IPCC AR6 assessed the likely range as 2.5°C to 4.0°C, with a best estimate of 3°C.
- Status
- Narrowed
- Category
- Atmospheric Science
- Accepted for
- ≈42 years
- Changed approximately
- 2021
Not a fact anymore
Chemically inert CFCs released near the ground cannot damage the stratospheric ozone layer.
What we know now
CFCs—chlorofluorocarbons once widely used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants—are so stable near the ground that they can survive long enough to reach the stratosphere. There, ultraviolet sunlight breaks them apart and releases chlorine, which can destroy many ozone molecules in repeated chemical reactions.
- Status
- Overturned
- Category
- Atmospheric Science
- Accepted for
- ≈39 years
- Changed approximately
- 1974–1980s
Not a fact anymore
Atmospheric temperature always decreases as altitude increases.
What we know now
Temperature does not keep falling all the way up through the atmosphere. It usually decreases through the troposphere, the lowest layer where most weather occurs, but begins rising through much of the stratosphere because ozone absorbs ultraviolet sunlight and converts some of that energy to heat.
- Status
- Overturned
- Category
- Atmospheric Science
- Accepted for
- ≈69 years
- Changed approximately
- 1902–1930s
No entries match those filters.