Global vision is declining

In many areas of the world, the foresight in the days of cloudiness has decreased since the 1970s due to the increase of environmental pollutants.

Foresight in many areas on the planet is decreasing.Photo: daylife.com.

Activities of burning fossil fuels by humans, volcanic eruptions, forest fires and industrial production have released billions of microscopic particles (such as soot, dust, SO ₂ molecules) and tiny droplets of liquid into the atmosphere. They are agents that reduce the vision of the eye. In addition, air pollutants can cause many diseases for humans. Greenhouse gases (such as CO ₂ ) do not affect visibility because they are transparent.

'The number of microscopic particles in the air is increasing rapidly, especially in Asia,' said Robert Dickinson, an environmental expert at the University of Texas. He and two Maryland University scientists analyzed data on foresight from 1973 to 2007 at 3,250 meteorological stations across the planet. They then collated the analytical results with the latest data provided by satellites to ensure the accuracy of the study.

The results show that the decline in vision is happening in South Asia, East Asia, South America, Australia and Africa. Meanwhile, the vision in North America has not changed, while the foresight in Europe is increasing.

The research team believes that industrial production in China, India and many other countries in Asia is reducing the level of light in the air. Meanwhile, regulations aiming to protect air quality in Europe have made the remote vision of the old continent increase since the mid-80s.

Micro particles in the air can reflect light back into space and reduce the amount of radiation that the Earth receives from the sun. That process makes the surface temperature of the earth fall. Some contaminants are capable of absorbing solar radiation, causing the air temperature to rise.