Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Dimming the Sun
This PBS Nova episode paints a very disturbing picture. Particulates generated by industry have created clouds that reflect sunlight more than normal clouds. This has resulted in a global dimming of sunlight over the last 100 years at a significant level - something like 10%. At the same time greenhouse gases have caused global warming. These two effects counteract each other - causing the temperature to rise more slowly.
The bad news is that greenhouse gases are being produced at an increasing rate. Particulate is being reduced. This will result in an excelerated rate of global warming - as much at 18 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century!
Another reason to get going on alternative energy! We need a massive Apollo-like effort, now.
While we can easily create the dimming effect to compensate, there are probably negative climate effects from reducing sunlight, too. Reducing greenhouse gases is incredibly important. If you don't believe this is a real problem, watch the show and see the part about the effect of the suspension of air traffic after 9/11. If that could have such a dramatic effect, imagine what all those power plants are doing.
This PBS Nova episode paints a very disturbing picture. Particulates generated by industry have created clouds that reflect sunlight more than normal clouds. This has resulted in a global dimming of sunlight over the last 100 years at a significant level - something like 10%. At the same time greenhouse gases have caused global warming. These two effects counteract each other - causing the temperature to rise more slowly.
The bad news is that greenhouse gases are being produced at an increasing rate. Particulate is being reduced. This will result in an excelerated rate of global warming - as much at 18 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century!
Another reason to get going on alternative energy! We need a massive Apollo-like effort, now.
While we can easily create the dimming effect to compensate, there are probably negative climate effects from reducing sunlight, too. Reducing greenhouse gases is incredibly important. If you don't believe this is a real problem, watch the show and see the part about the effect of the suspension of air traffic after 9/11. If that could have such a dramatic effect, imagine what all those power plants are doing.
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