How CO2 Cools the Stratosphere While Warming Earth's Surface

Researchers at Columbia University have identified the mechanism that causes the upper atmosphere to cool as CO2 levels rise. While carbon dioxide traps heat near the surface, it behaves differently in the stratosphere, where it radiates infrared energy back into space. This process creates a feedback loop that strengthens warming in the lower atmosphere. By understanding this Goldilocks zone of infrared light, scientists can better quantify the fingerprints of human driven climate change and apply these findings to other planetary atmospheres.