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The exhaust of ocean-going ships contains sulfur. Water droplets can condense around the sulfur, forming clouds, like the ship tracks seen in this image. Credit: NOAA
The exhaust produced by ocean-going ships can contribute to our warming climate. Most ships burn fossil fuels, so they spew out atmosphere-warming compounds. But some of their contribution to global warming may be a result of lower emissions—not of carbon, but of sulfur.
One of the compounds produced by burning fossil fuels is sulfur dioxide. Sunlight can cause it to interact with other compounds. That can yield droplets of acid rain, plus tiny grains of sulfur. Water can condense around those grains, forming clouds. The sulfur can stay in the air for days, so it can contribute to clouds for a long time.
The sulfur-based clouds are bright, so they reflect a lot of sunlight into space. That helps keep down the surface temperature.
In 2020, the International Maritime Organization passed some new regulations. It required shipping to cut sulfur emissions by 80 percent—reducing acid rain and cutting air pollution around ports.
A recent study looked at the possible impact that’s had on global warming. Researchers analyzed more than a million satellite images of ocean clouds. They compared those to maps of global temperature increases. And they used computer models to study what it all means.
The work found a big drop in ship-created clouds. And the drop correlated with areas of greater warming. The researchers concluded that the loss of clouds could have added about a tenth of a degree Fahrenheit to global temperatures—and could add more in the years ahead.
