Scientists have found in the chaos of the planet order, which for a long time went unnoticed.
Scientists have discovered Our planet has a stable symmetry of reflection of sunlight between the eastern and western halves. According to satellite observations for 2001-2025, the meridian 27° east longitude divides the Earth into two parts, which reflect almost the same amount of short-wave radiation back into space.
We are talking about albedo, that is, the ability of the surface, clouds and atmosphere to reflect sunlight. Previously, attention was drawn to a similar symmetry between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, although the mechanism of its preservation is not fully explained. The new work has shown that equilibrium exists along the east-west, and only with such division of the planet.
The main role in the balance is played by clouds. In the eastern half of the Earth, high clouds reflect more light, and in the western one, low clouds above the oceans. In addition, the equilibrium maintains the ratio of oceans, sushi and ice-covered areas. The authors call such a picture “triple symmetry”, because it coincides several indicators of reflection at once.
Observations also linked the annual oscillations of this symmetry with the phases of El Niño and La Niña. Such phases change the surface temperature of the tropical Pacific Ocean and restructure large air flows, which changes the distribution of clouds and precipitation between the eastern and western parts of планетыthe planet.
Checking the climate models showed a weak point. Eight CMIP6 models generally reproducing the share of the ocean at the Meridian of 27° east longitude, but could not repeat the observed reflection symmetry and the associated balance of clouds. The authors believe that the problem may be related to how models describe the cloudiness of the lower atmosphere.
Individual calculations with climate scenarios have shown that major changes in the system of the Earth are able to shift this balance. In the source, this conclusion refers to model calculations, and not to the observed event. The work also does not prove that symmetry will remain in the future.
Thus, the eastern-western symmetry of albedo turned out to be a real feature of our planet, but its stability has yet to be checked. The authors believe that for such a test it is necessary to continue observations of the Earth’s radiation balance from space.
Scientists have discovered Our planet has a stable symmetry of reflection of sunlight between the eastern and western halves. According to satellite observations for 2001-2025, the meridian 27° east longitude divides the Earth into two parts, which reflect almost the same amount of short-wave radiation back into space.
We are talking about albedo, that is, the ability of the surface, clouds and atmosphere to reflect sunlight. Previously, attention was drawn to a similar symmetry between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, although the mechanism of its preservation is not fully explained. The new work has shown that equilibrium exists along the east-west, and only with such division of the planet.
The main role in the balance is played by clouds. In the eastern half of the Earth, high clouds reflect more light, and in the western one, low clouds above the oceans. In addition, the equilibrium maintains the ratio of oceans, sushi and ice-covered areas. The authors call such a picture “triple symmetry”, because it coincides several indicators of reflection at once.
Observations also linked the annual oscillations of this symmetry with the phases of El Niño and La Niña. Such phases change the surface temperature of the tropical Pacific Ocean and restructure large air flows, which changes the distribution of clouds and precipitation between the eastern and western parts of планетыthe planet.
Checking the climate models showed a weak point. Eight CMIP6 models generally reproducing the share of the ocean at the Meridian of 27° east longitude, but could not repeat the observed reflection symmetry and the associated balance of clouds. The authors believe that the problem may be related to how models describe the cloudiness of the lower atmosphere.
Individual calculations with climate scenarios have shown that major changes in the system of the Earth are able to shift this balance. In the source, this conclusion refers to model calculations, and not to the observed event. The work also does not prove that symmetry will remain in the future.
Thus, the eastern-western symmetry of albedo turned out to be a real feature of our planet, but its stability has yet to be checked. The authors believe that for such a test it is necessary to continue observations of the Earth’s radiation balance from space.
