BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA

Subject: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: robomatic
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 01:43 AM

PBS just aired a pretty sobering edition of their science show "NOVA". It began with world-wide observations of solar dimming. Within the past two generations, the solar energy reaching the earth has been blocked by small particles created by pollution, major fires, major eruptions.

But hasn't the CO2 increase in the atmosphere been creating global 'warming'?

Well, yes, Virginia, it has, but the effects have been largely masked by the lesser amount of energy making it through the upper levels of earth's atmosphere, hence we may be in for a double whammy if and when the natural energy endowment of the sun should start making it to earth under the greenhouse effect, and that double whammy could make for a hat trick if enough of the earth's ice shield should be melted and frozen undersea methane should be liberated.

NOVA: Dimming The Sun

This was truly a scary scenario coming from a usually well balanced show.

I didn't see anything in the show that seemed logically inconsistent or way off-base.

Think I'll go order that hybrid car now!

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: Paul Burke
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 03:24 AM

Yes, this was broadcast on UK television about a year ago. Still, it does suggest that if the rate of global warming seriously increases, we can hold it back by exploding a few H bombs in the Sahara.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:43 PM

I have to say, when I saw that Nova was doing something on "dimming sun" I thought they were finally going to tell us what goes into those little Chinese delicacies...

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 01:02 PM

from the NOVA website ...

"But there is an important difference from previous industrial revolutions. This one requires political leadership; the market on its own won't do it. As an Englishman I am often impatient with the notion of America as "the indispensable nation," but on this occasion I think that it is. To combat global warming, the world desperately needs U.S. leadership."

Oh dear. We're really in trouble.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 04:07 PM

Of COURSE it is negative and depressing. It was on PBS. They are KNOWN for being "negative Normans." We should watch such shows for their entertainment value, only. If we only believe hard enough, as Resident Bush does, there is no global warming or any other such ominous threats. OTOH, if we believe, as he apparently does, that the Rapture is coming (and presumably he will be among the chosen to sit at the right hand of G-d), it doesn't make a fig of difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: robomatic
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 04:22 PM

Paul Burke: are you saying this exact Nova broadcast has already been aired or that the issue of pollution causing reduced solar energy to hit the earth and thus masking the effects of global warming has already been brought up?

SaulGoldie: I think 'W' is intelligent enough to figure out that even if there IS a rapture, he ain't goin' nowhar. The Simpsons recently covered this territory with "Left BELOW".


Mrr....here's a delicacy for ya....Bite Me!

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: autolycus
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 06:02 PM

Education,education,education.


   Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 01:45 AM

That NOVA documentary (or somthing exactly similar in content) air on Aussie FTA TV a while ago too.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: Paul Burke
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 03:57 AM

I was saying that the issue was aired in the UK a while ago, not that it's stale. And also in a tongue-in-cheek way trying to point out the potential hazards of solving the (relatively) easy problem- pollution of the atmosphere by particulates- while leaving the difficult problem (CO2) untouched.

The first is easy to solve because it's easy to see black smoke belching from chimneys, and people can get angry at someone else- factory owners. So just like the successful treatment of the ozone hole, we can make a self- righteous fuss, and when we get the laws in place, pat ourselves on the back, good job done.

When the difficult one involves each individual person making difficult choices. To reduce CO2, the only method available is to reduce energy consumption. It's very difficult to say to people who have never used much energy (Indians, Chinese) that they've got to reduce it, to use energy more efficiently, but that's what's got to be done.

And they aren't going to believe us while we are using power at 10 times or more the rate they are. So it's up to the prosperous technological west to cut down most. And to reduce OUR energy consumption by 90% will mean real hardship for everyone.

Of course, there is an alternative, just to let things run on until the heta induced collapse forces us to cut down. And the chaos that brings about just might lead to a few dozen H bomb explosions, which will both reduce the number of energy consumers, and blast their pulverised remains into the upper atmosphere, restoring solar dimming and cutting down global warming....

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: autolycus
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 05:56 AM

Or people could really have a hard think (hgard in itself) about our western way of life.

Apparently we're lots richer than ever, and no happier.

As "Private Eye" magazine would say,"Shurely shome mishtake"


   Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 06:57 AM

Little heat is reflected by the particulate pollution, it is absorbed.
The heat may not reach the ground directly, but it still gets into the atmosphere.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: Paul Burke
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 07:37 AM

The particles might themselves absorb, but in the higher atmosphere they also act as nuclei for cloud formation. And clouds reflect.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 08:43 AM

"Apparently we're lots richer than ever, and no happier."

My house has increased in value over 6 times since I bought it - the rates have gone up, I am paying out a greater percentage of my income for everything else since then, I now buy the cheapest food brands by choice, I've had to cancel my heath insurance plan, and i am not saving anything.

But I'm more wealthy!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 11:26 PM

History repeats.
It just costs twice as much every time around!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 04:04 AM

History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time on the Discovery Channel.

Subject: RE: BS: Solar Dimming And Global Warming - NOVA
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 06:00 AM

I just noticed that my copy of the BBC Climate Change experiment has been reset to the start because they decided they needed to take more account of sulphate particulates.