Suggestive correlations between the brightness of Neptune, solar variability, and Earth's temp

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS ^ | 19 April 2007 | Hammel, H. B., and G. W. Lockwood

[ricks_place]

H. B. Hammel
Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA

G. W. Lockwood
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Abstract

Long-term photometric measurements of Neptune show variations of brightness over half a century. Seasonal change in Neptune's atmosphere may partially explain a general rise in the long-term light curve, but cannot explain its detailed variations. This leads us to consider the possibility of solar-driven changes, i.e., changes incurred by innate solar variability perhaps coupled with changing seasonal insolation. Although correlations between Neptune's brightness and Earth's temperature anomaly—and between Neptune and two models of solar variability—are visually compelling, at this time they are not statistically significant due to the limited degrees of freedom of the various time series. Nevertheless, the striking similarity of the temporal patterns of variation should not be ignored simply because of low formal statistical significance. If changing brightnesses and temperatures of two different planets are correlated, then some planetary climate changes may be due to variations in the solar system environment.

[ricks_place]

Mankind's foolhardy greenhouse gas emmissions reach the Planet Neptune!

[saganite]

then some planetary climate changes may be due to variations in the solar system environment.

Ya think? It seems scientists are finally getting around to stating the obvious.

[50sDad]

I think Evil Spirits from the Planet Neptune are teleporting to Earth in a bid to roast us alive! And I have just as much evidence to support my theory as the First Church of Global Warming has to support theirs!

[MizSterious]

Darned George Bush. Now look what he’s done.

(Yes, that’s sarcasm, for those who wonder.)

[Liaison]

This is where the global warming fanatics start to loose their grip on reality. The SUN is causing most of the global warming with an increased cycle of activity. The environmental activists are egocentric in that man has the power to move the warming of the entire planet. They are scared children with control issues and night fears need some good psychotherapy.

[11th Commandment]

I am waiting for the day Algore gets up and declares in his patronizing demeanor, “I called you here today to tell you I was not quit right on green house gases. It turns out that there is this big ball of fire in the sky that impacts our climate more than CO2 at 3 parts per million. Who would have thunk this? Now you don’t have to be scared of this big ball of fire, it’s several million miles away in space. Now I can say with certainty that the science is settled on the sun, it isn’t going to burn us up for several billion years. See I have learned that the earth’s atmoshpere protects us from the sun’s harmful radiation. As long as the atmoshpere remains intact, we humans are safe. That is why today I announce that I am starting a new organization to protect the earth’s ozone layer. I am going to work hard to banned harmful CFC’s which destroy this delicate layer of oxygen that protects us from the big ball of fire in the sky. The good LORD created a earth with a few flaws; but with Algore on the case, the world is once again safe."

[Piquaboy]

Do you think the sun has anything to do with climate?

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[Midtowngirl]

Now lets see if we can follow liberal logic:

Fact: Al Gore says humans are causing global warming.

Fact: Global Warming is occuring on Neptune

Conclusion: Al Gore says there is life on Neptune.

We can't see these life forms, but we can deduce they have HUGE carbon footprints.

[SunkenCiv]

Whaaat?!? The Sun is responsible for planetary climates? How farfetched!

[Enchante]

Hurry, let’s ban all those SUVs on Neptune!!!

[gcruse]

“Insolation”

Learned another new word, one that should be useful in the coming correlation between solar output and global warming.

[justa-hairyape]

Conclusion: Al Gore says there is life on Neptune.

We can't see these life forms, but we can deduce they have HUGE carbon footprints.

Its all the fault of those darn Neptunians. I bet they are also the ones who are moving the Martian Fairy Dust which is changing the Martian temperature due to albedo differences on that red planet.