New research from Columbia University explains the physics behind why rising carbon dioxide levels cool the stratosphere while trapping heat in the lower atmosphere. In the upper atmosphere, CO2 acts as a radiator, emitting infrared energy into space more efficiently as concentrations increase. This stratospheric cooling creates a feedback loop that reduces the amount of infrared energy escaping the planet. As a result, more heat remains trapped near the surface, intensifying the warming effect in the lower atmospheric layers.
