Editing Greenhouse effect (section)

=== Clouds and aerosols ===
{{See also|Cloud feedback|Cloud forcing}}
Clouds and aerosols have both cooling effects, associated with reflecting sunlight back to space, and warming effects, associated with trapping thermal radiation.

On average, clouds have a strong net cooling effect. However, the mix of cooling and warming effects varies, depending on detailed characteristics of particular clouds (including their  type, height, and optical properties).<ref name="GFDLcre">{{cite web |title=Cloud Radiative Effect |url=https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/cloud-radiative-effect/ |publisher=NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref> Thin cirrus clouds can have a net warming effect. Clouds can absorb and emit infrared radiation and thus affect the radiative properties of the atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Liou |first=Kuo-Nan |date=1 June 1986 |title=Influence of Cirrus Clouds on Weather and Climate Processes: A Global Perspective |journal=Monthly Weather Review |language=EN |volume=114 |issue=6 |pages=1167–1199 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1986)114<1167:IOCCOW>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode=1986MWRv..114.1167L |issn=1520-0493 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

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