To date, satellite studies have found that clouds have an overall net cooling effect on the Earth. Analyses of satellite data have also shown that clouds which form over water are very different from clouds which form over land. These differences affect the way clouds reflect sunlight back into space and how much longwave energy from the Earth the clouds absorb and re-emit. These changes can affect weather patterns around the world. Water Vapor Effects Water vapor in the atmosphere also affects our daily weather and climate, though scientists are only beginning to understand how this complex mechanism works.
Water vapor acts like a greenhouse gas, absorbing outgoing longwave energy.
Because water vapor also condenses to make clouds, an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere also may increase the amount of clouds. These include the EOS-Aqua satellite in 2000.