Asian Forecast: Hazy, Warmer—Clouds of pollution heat lower atmosphere

The murky clouds of smoke and soot that blanket many regions of Asia have heated the lower atmosphere there in recent decades as much as increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have, a new field study suggests.

RIVER OF HAZE. Dense “brown clouds” of pollution that smother much of Asia, such as the gray haze wafting over northern India’s Ganges River in this Dec.