Murray Taylor

MURRAY TAYLOR

Artist Statement: The Uncertain Future of Clouds

Satellite images show us that on any given day two thirds of our planet has some sort of cloud cover. When climate scientists run computer models to predict the impact of climate change, the models are uncertain about the effect warming temperatures will have on clouds – and in return, the effect clouds will have on the warming temperatures.

Low scattered clouds, the type in these paintings, reflect 30% of the radiation coming from the sun, and have a cooling effect on the planet. High thin clouds allow the radiation in and then keep heat from escaping back into space.

If the models that show high cloud cover increasing are correct then the climate crisis will be exacerbated by the clouds. I can only think about this hot, gray possible future for about 20 minutes before my cognitive dissonance kicks in. As uncomfortable as it is to think about this gray future, we need to think about it and take actions that can prevent it now, while we still can.

If the models that show more low scattered clouds are correct, the warming will happen more slowly, hopefully giving us more time to come up with real solutions.

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