[Vision2020] [Bulk] Re: snow

[Paul Rumelhart]

Not that I fall into the group you're discussing (nor would they 
probably want to count me as a member), but I was going post an article 
on the recent lack of sunspot activity and what that might mean for 
global climate anyway, so why not now?

http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5982

The Sun goes through an apparent 11-year sunspot cycle, and is now in a 
lull between cycles when there is little sunspot activity.  The odd 
thing, though, is that this latest sunspot cycle doesn't seem to be 
progressing as it should.  We're in a two-year hiatus, with no idea how 
long it will be until the cycle starts again.

The reason this may affect the global climate has to do with the amount 
of radiation hitting the Earth.  When there are more sunspots, there is 
more radiation output and the Sun heats us more than when it is 
quiescent and there is little sunspot activity.  The "Maunder Minimum", 
which I've posted about before, was a period of around 50-years in the 
1600's where there were few sunspots, which correlates with a period of 
relative cold dubbed the "Little Ice Age".  As always, Wikipedia is your 
friend:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_minimum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age

Just to ward off some pending comments, I'm not claiming that global 
warming isn't happening, I'm not claiming that there isn't an 
anthropogenic component, I'm not proposing that we do nothing or that we 
go burn some oil for heat, I'm not saying the world isn't on the brink 
of collapse politically, economically, spiritually, or culturally, your 
mileage may vary, opening the case voids your warranty, batteries not 
included.

What I will propose for thoughtful contemplation is this: the Earth is 
in orbit around a mass of fusing hydrogen that is 109 times the diameter 
of the Earth, and which dominates the Earth energy-wise.  The Earth is 
mostly balanced energy-wise, meaning that small perturbations in the 
radiation output of this gigantic ball of energy can be enough to have 
catastrophic effects.  The effects we are talking about with respect to 
global warming are small ones.  We're not talking about "snowball 
Earths", the atmosphere burning, or the seas boiling.  We're talking 
about a few degrees over a few decades in relative temperature change.

Maybe this lack of activity will in some way miraculously help us 
overcome the effects of our SUVs and our consumer-driven (and 
profit-driven) culture.

Paul

I know the world looks to our little berg for all it's global climate 
change news; might as well do my bit for the greater good ("the greater 
good").


keely emerinemix wrote:
> I can't wait 'til our Blogmeister friends announce gleefully that this 
> is proof -- PROOF,  I say -- that "global warming" is just a big scam 
> wrought by sniveling, fear-mongering liberals.
>
> Moscow -- the bellweather for all weather and the standard of global 
> climate science since the beginning of the Scientific Age.
>
> Keely
>
>
>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     From: whayman at roadrunner.com
>     To: the_ivies3 at yahoo.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
>     Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:16:49 -0700
>     Subject: Re: [Vision2020] snow
>
>     Good one! And a happy Solstice, too!
>      
>     Warren Hayman
>      
>
>         ----- Original Message -----
>         *From:* Tom Ivie <mailto:the_ivies3 at yahoo.com>
>         *To:* vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
>         *Sent:* Tuesday, June 10, 2008 8:47 AM
>         *Subject:* [Vision2020] snow
>
>         Merry Christmas!!!
>
>
>         Tom & Liz Ivie
>
>         ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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