Montana and Earth Are Getting Darker, NASA Study Finds

Montana lives up to its nickname of the “Big Sky State” in a lot of ways. One of my favorite things about being in Montana is the view we get of space and celestial events.  

What Does It Mean for the ‘Big Sky’ State?

Just recently, we had views of multiple comets, the Northern Lights, and the Orionid Meteor Shower.  We also have two of the best “Dark Sky” locations in the world. 

READ MORE: Montanans Could See Two Comets and a Meteor Shower This Week 

When it comes to darkness, Montana—and the rest of Earth—appears to be getting even darker. According to IFLScience.com, NASA research over the last 24 years is showing that the Earth is getting darker, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.  

The Earth absorbs light from the Sun, but it also reflects light into space. According to the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project, which studies the amount of radiation and energy the Earth is emitting, we are absorbing more incoming solar radiation and our outgoing longwave radiation is higher.  

READ MORE: Two Beautiful Montana Locations That Have Dark Skies

Not only is that making our planet darker, but it also affects the Earth’s climate. According to the report, the amount of energy the Earth receives, compared to the amount that’s emitted into space, is called the “Earth’s radiation budget.” That budget is a driving force behind the ocean's atmospheric circulation, which is critical to the climate.  

Contributing factors to this happening are cloud cover, snow cover, and water vapor in the atmosphere.  

Implications for Climate and the Northern Hemisphere

NASA says that more studies are needed on this complex system, but the study suggests that the Northern Hemisphere is not only getting darker, but it could also be warming more quickly than the Southern Hemisphere. 

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The study results are available on PNAS.org.