Burning Fossil Fuels Has A Measurable Cooling Effect On The Climate

www.sciencedaily.com ^ | 01-20-2004

[boris]

Source: University Of Michigan
Date: 2004-01-19

Burning Fossil Fuels Has A Measurable Cooling Effect On The Climate

Atmospheric researchers have provided observational evidence that burning fossil fuels has a direct impact on the solar radiation reflectivity of clouds, thereby contributing to global climate change.

Joyce Penner, professor in the University of Michigan Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, U-M graduate student Yang Chen, and assistant professor Xiquan Dong from the University of North Dakota Department of Atmospheric Science, reported their findings in the Jan. 15 issue of the journal Nature.

Most evidence that increased levels of fossil fuel particles (aerosols) affects the reflectivity of clouds, thereby producing a cooling effect on the climate, has been indirect. "This made it difficult to determine the impact this phenomena, known as the indirect aerosol effect, has on the global climate," Penner said. "Our data makes the direct connection and opens new areas of study."

Solar radiation, which adds to global warming, is reflected back into space by clouds. Cloud droplets are increased with higher levels of aerosols, allowing for less radiation, or heat, to reach the lower atmosphere. The end result is a measurable cooling effect on the climate.

Using atmospheric data gathered from a site in Oklahoma, a typical continental site with a high concentration of aerosols, and a typical Arctic site in Barrow Alaska with low aerosol concentration, the researchers were able to show that the difference in cloud reflectivity at the two sites was caused by the difference in aerosol levels. The researchers also provided important evidence that the computer simulation model used in the study was capable of estimating cloud optical properties determined over a broad range of aerosol concentrations.

"This study is important for two reasons," Penner said. "First, it provides evidence that there is some cooling of the climate due to anthropogenic aerosols. Second, the simulation model we used has been shown to be a valuable tool in determining more directly the impact of aerosols on the climate."

Penner cautioned that over longer time scales in the future, the climate cooling due to the indirect aerosol effect will be minimal when compared to the climate warming of carbon dioxide. "We've shown that there's more work to be done to discover all of the various ways we affect the climate."

For more information, visit http://aoss.engin.umich.edu/ and http://www.nature.com/

[boomop1]

More junk science, horse dung commie indoctrination.

[Jotmo]

Now "Global Cooling".

When will they make up their freaking mind!

[Naspino]

I can't wait for that Global Dimming to happen -- I know as work-at-home hermit everytime I walk outside I have fall to my knees shield my eyes and yell YYYYAAAAAARRRRR!

[JeeperFreeper]

Somebody explain to me why there were glaciers going as far south as Iowa that retreated due to warming about 10,000 years ago (or so I was taught in college science classes). That was before much burning of fossil fuel at all. So what caused that warming?? Maybe some FReepers can shed some light on this issue.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The glacier stopped right where the Iowa Statehouse is located. Soils north are much different than soils to the south of this point.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

No NO NO!!! Get with the program!! It global warming, that's the mantra. How can we convince people that there is global warming if it's cooling?

[kylaka]

Haven't you heard the latest. Direct exposure to the sunlight is good for you.

[Jaysun]

Sunlight creates ozone. How does that jive with their puke drooling nonsense?

[Condor51]

As I recall it was due to a 'more than average' shift in the axis angle of the Earth (or wobble), bringing the Northern Hemisphere closer to the Sun for a longer duration of time and thereby melting the ice. An opposite shift caused the 'ice age' in the first place. As I also recall, this is... get ready... a natural phenomena and occurs about every 100,000 years.

Or as 'some' have posited, it could have been due to MOOSE farts.
(ok, I'm kidding about this part)

[TexasRepublic]

Or as 'some' have posited, it could have been due to MOOSE farts.

Now see what you've done - you mentioned the "M" word. Don't you understand the repercussions? Ahem, a moose bit my sister once. :-)

[kidd]

"Our data makes the direct connection and opens new areas of study."

"...and of course, new reasons to give us more funding..."

[Jotmo]

"...and of course, new reasons to give us more funding..."

Ding ding ding ding ding ding...

WE HAVE A WINNER!

[freedumb2003]

and of course there is the cheese thing...

[freedumb2003]

>>Now "Global Cooling".<<

OK, lets put the florocarbons back into harspray and let the Global Cooling and Global Warming cancel each other out!

[Jotmo]

Crap! What happened to my tag line?

[Jotmo]

Oh, there it is.

[Redcloak]

So then... The global cooling causes global warming, which, in turn causes global cooling leading to global warming and thus global cooling followed by global warming...

[Jotmo]

I'll go to the junk yard and break open all the old AC systems I can find.

Just doin my part.

[theyibby]

One of two things cause global warming.

First, the uncaring, capitalistic, polluting Republicans cause it OR (more importantly) all of Al Gore's blowing of "hot air" into the atmosphere.

The second option is the most likely cause.

[cake_crumb]

They've been going back and forth with the global warming/global cooling theories for decades, as needed, depending on the weather.

It's funny. These are the same people who told me 20 years ago that by this century the dandilions should still be blooming in my yard and the coasts would experience devestating flooding as sea levels rose. Also, we'd be OUT of fossil fuel.

Other people told me 20 years ago that global warmig would bring on another ice age. And that by this century, we'd be out of fossil fuel.

Most people over 30 years of age have noticed a decadal climate cycle. If we carefully look at written history, we see evidence of centennial climate cycle. If we remember hearing about dinosaurs and the last ice age, we might notice geologic cycles which span tens of thousands of years. Of course, none of that would get us government money or totalitarian control over the masses, so nobody talks about it.

[Valin]

Burning Fossil Fuels Has A Measurable Cooling Effect On The Climate

I really wish they'd make up their minds. First it's cooling, then it's warming, now it's cooling again. I'm getting confused...not that that's very hard.

[cake_crumb]

"Somebody explain to me why there were glaciers going as far south as Iowa that retreated due to warming about 10,000 years ago (or so I was taught in college science classes)."

Well OBVIOUSLY the Republicans caused all that!

[lepton]

More junk science, horse dung commie indoctrination.

There's actually quite a bit out there that suggests the cited effect is so - and that the Kyoto Accords have and related pacts, if anything, had an effect TOWARDS global warming, to the limited extent they've been implemented.

[lepton]

So then... The global cooling causes global warming, which, in turn causes global cooling leading to global warming and thus global cooling followed by global warming...

No. Global warming, if determined detrimental, is rather easily and inexpensively countered with an attainable level of aerosols.

[ikka]

The researchers also provided important evidence that the computer simulation model used in the study

THIS is the key part of the article.

A computer simulation was used, that is, they made up a mathematical formula that is supposed to model how the atmosphere works, in spite of the fact that not enough is known about the atmosphere to accurately model.

[kennedy]

What, are we going back to global cooling again? That is so 70s.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Now "Global Cooling".

When will they make up their freaking mind!

LOL, exactly.

[boomop1]

I would probably come around to the logic of their point, volcano eruption the sun effect ect. Most environuts are obsessed to how we, the USA are the primary cause.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Now see what you've done - you mentioned the "M" word. Don't you understand the repercussions? Ahem, a moose bit my sister once. :-)"

"...and of course there is the cheese thing..."

Hang on everybody, this whole dang thread just got flung into the cheese/møøse continuum.

This could be a very bumpy ride!

[Jotmo]

Buckled up and ready to ride!

[cake_crumb]

" computer simulation was used, that is, they made up a mathematical formula that is supposed to model how the atmosphere works, in spite of the fact that not enough is known about the atmosphere to accurately model"

Fortunately for them, enough is known about computer programming for the model to produce the results they want.

[capt. norm]

Now we have two junk sciences virtually cancelling each other out.

Good thing we didn't go off the deep end and ratify Kyoto like some of the Euro-Goobers.

[yankeedame]

work-at-home hermit

LOL! I like that! Mind if I borrow it?

[ZULU]

Didn't these wackos recently tell us fossil fuesl cause global warming?

The fact of the matter is, from a geoclimatological perspective, we are approaching the end of an intergalcial period. We are overdue for the start of a glacial advance.
(Hmmmm. New York and Kennedychusetts sitting under a two mile layer of solid ice just warms my heart!!)

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
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[E.G.C.]

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