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There are treaties in place like the Montreal Protocol and Paris Agreement to help stem the rise of global temperatures and greenhouse gases.
类似于《蒙特利尔议定书》和《巴黎协定》的条约，有助于控制全球气温上升及温室气体排放。
But we might have other tools for managing climate change at our disposal, one of which, oddly, comes from Pluto.
但控制气候变化，我们可能还有其他方法，奇怪的是，方法之一竟来自冥王星。
In July of 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto.
2015年7月，新地平线号宇宙飞船飞过冥王星。
Among the wealth of data the spacecraft gathered was the dwarf planet's global temperature.
宇宙飞船收集的数据中，有一项是关于一颗矮行星全球温度的。
And it was a strange result.
这个数据结果很奇怪。
From ground-based measurements taking into account Pluto's atmosphere and how much that atmospheric composition would reflect and absorb solar radiation,
从地面测量，考虑到冥王星拥有大气层，科学家们在计算了大气成分会反射和吸收多少太阳辐射后，
scientists had estimated the planet would be on the order of about 100 degrees Kelvin.
估计这颗行星温度大约有100K。
But the data that came back said otherwise. Pluto was colder, on average, just 70 K.
但数据返回说，并非如此。冥王星温度比这要低，平均只有70K。
A team of researchers suspects that the cause is not Pluto's atmosphere but a haze that surrounds the planet.
一组研究人员怀疑造成这种结果的原因不是冥王星的大气层，而是环绕这颗行星的薄雾。
Among the gases that make up Pluto's thin -- or rare -- atmosphere are nitrogen and methane.
在构成冥王星稀薄大气层的气体中，包含氮气和甲烷。
When UV light from the Sun reaches the atmosphere, both gases become ionized, kicking off electrons in the process.
当来自太阳的紫外线到达大气层时，这两种气体都会被电离，在这个过程中，它们会释放电子。
They then react to form complex hydrocarbons that are heavy enough to fall to the surface.
然后它们进行（化学）反应，形成复杂的碳氢化合物，这些碳氢化合物很重，足以落到地表。
These are called "tholins" and they give Pluto it's reddish hue.
这些物质被称为“tholins”，这让冥王星看起来呈现红色。
The haze caused by these heavy particles also cool the planet.
这些重粒子使得雾就此形成，星球温度随之下降。
They have higher solar heating and thermal cooling rates than gas molecules, and because they dominate the atmosphere their impact is significant.
它们具有比气体分子更高的太阳能加热和热力学制冷速率，而且因为它们主控着大气层，影响十分显著。
What's really interesting here is the degree to which these particles cool Pluto.
真正有趣的是这些粒子冷却冥王星的程度。
The temperature difference is more than a factor of 10 greater than the impact humans have had on Earth's atmosphere with things like emissions and greenhouse gases.
这种温度差异比人类在地球大气中的排放物及温室气体所造成的影响要大10倍以上。
So, what if we took this idea and brought it home?
那么，如果我们接受这个想法并把它带回地球呢？
What if a similar process on Earth could curb global temperature rise?
如果类似进程发生在地球上，能抑制全球气温上升呢？
Scientists have actually seen a similar phenomenon on our own planet.
科学家们在我们自己的星球上也看到过类似的现象。
Called Global Dimming, it's not caused by complex hydrocarbons but by a combination of natural factors like ash from forest fires and man-made pollutants in the atmosphere.
这种现象称为全球暗化，它不是由复杂的碳氢化合物造成的，而是自然因素综合作用的结果，比如像森林火灾中产生的灰尘以及大气中的人造污染物等。
These particles attract water molecules that then form clouds that reflect more sunlight back into space.
这些粒子吸引水分子，然后形成能反射更多阳光到宇宙中的云。
Less sunlight hitting the ground means less heating.
减少阳光对地面的照射意味着减少供暖。
There is, however, a major downside.
然而，有一个主要缺点。
More clouds and atmospheric water could affect global rainfall patterns leading to drought, which would take a toll plant growth.
更多的云和大气降水可能对全球降雨模式造成影响，导致干旱，从而让植物生长付出代价。
And that would have a huge impact on the global ecosystem.
这将对全球生态系统产生巨大影响。
Throwing particles into the atmosphere might also conceal the full effect of global warming.
向大气中排放粒子也可能会掩盖全球变暖所造成的影响。
If the dimming happens in conjunction with the rise in global temperatures, it might mask the severity of our planet's sensitivity to greenhouse gases.
如果全球暗化与全球气温上升同时发生，它就可能掩盖地球对温室气体敏感度的严重性。
But information is our greatest ally.
但是信息是我们最大的盟友。
If we can understand and control global dimming, it could be another defense against climate change.
如果我们能够理解和控制全球暗化，它就可能成为另一种抵御气候变化的手段。
If you liked this video be sure to subscribe for more Seeker in your life.
如果你喜欢这个视频，敬请订阅其他Seeker节目。
Crazy geoengineering projects like this are incredible, and this is just one of many.
像这样的疯狂地球工程项目令人难以置信，而这只是其中之一。
Julian has a run-down of some more, here.
朱利安会在这里对其他一些项目做出总结。
And speaking of global dimming, the amount of sunlight reaching the surface today is, on average, less than it was in the 1950s.
说道全球暗化，今天到达地表的阳光总量平均来讲比上世纪50年代要少。
