Climatologists Wager On Global Warming

[DarkestDream]

http://science.slashdot.org/science/05/08/...?tid=126&tid=14

[Pete_C]

http://science.slashdot.org/science/05/08/...?tid=126&tid=14

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The big problem with calling something "Global warming" is that without it the Earth would be at its natural albedo temperature, well below freezing, it would be a snowball from the poles to the equator (it has done this in the past, causing almost all life to die off ).

In fact, statistically, the current weather globally is well below the norm.

But this does not mean that it will result in higher high temperatures. In general what "global warming" has done in the past is result in higher low temperatures. This means that the poles do not get as cold in the winter, that it does not cool off as much in the evenings (thus delaying the first frost in winter in high latitudes)/

The second big issue is how the temperature is measured. While ground level observations from weather stations indicate a rise in global average temperature, this rise is limited to the area near the ground ; and do not show up in infra red satellite measurements of atmospheric temperatures. If there were such a thing as a green house effect due to carbon dioxide buildup, and global warming; it would result in an increase in atmospheric temperatures at all levels. The truth is that the observed changes can easily be explained by the fact that what were once rural weather stations are now surrounded by concrete parking lots and urban sprawl. While this results in higher daytime temperatures at ground level, it does not continue at higher levels.

Far more significant effects on global temperature and climate are caused by ocean currents which redistribute equatorial heat and high energy cosmic and solar particulate radiation which cause the formation of clouds (more radiation => more clouds => more rain and lower temps. Less radiation, +> fewer clouds and less rain and higher temps) . Ocean currents affect the climate in places like northern europe which would be much colder without the redistribution of equatorial heat via the gulf stream etc. The big question is whether increased rainfall in areas such as siberia could alter the currents in such a way as to cause northern latitudes to cool and if the current observed changes in the earths magnetic feild will result in more cloud formation . There are also geographical influences. The rise of the Himalayas caused the climate change which changed Africa from a totally forested rainy climate prior to 10 Million years ago to the dry savannah which led to the evolution of our species . This , combination of the continued rise of the himalayas in conjunction with climate shifts caused by the melting of the ice age glaciers which covered europe have resulted in the formation and continued growth of the Sahara desert. While europe becomming covered with an ice sheet would increase aerable land in Africa, ther is no rapid way for the himalayas to dissappear.

[macmarauder]

we're gona need more space heaters