Who Ever Said Science Was Dull?
Not surprisingly, our article on solar activity and global warming touched a nerve. You just don’t get this kind of feedback about observing emission nebulae in Perseus…
Some feedback from our loyal subscribers…
Brian-
Interesting. I had not heard of that possible association between sun activity and global warming. Turns out there’s a good reason for that….
Since I happen to know a preeminent astronomer, I asked him. He said that there has been a correlation of sunspot activity and European temperatures in the past, though there is no current theory or hypothesis that can explain that with thorough scientific rigor. HOWEVER, the solar astronomers have shown that there is NO link between current sun spot activity and global warming. Why you are blowing this hot air, I can’t imagine. Again, the scientific consensus is that global warming is happening, humans are causing it, and recent data suggests that it may be WORSE that the models are predicting.
There is a potential grain of truth that extremes of sunspot activity, and even the 11 year cycle, may affect the climate. But there is no scientific reason to suggest that it is sun spot activity and not greenhouse gases that are causing global warming. None. Zip. Zero. And yet, this is what you are suggesting, all the while trying to sound like a reasonable sceptic (a strategy I’ve seen before). But, in my opinion, the “Healthy and open skepticism should be directed at YOU, not the conclusion of the entire scientific community. You may have a grain of truth in your email, but it turns out it is sitting on top of a pile of poo. Seems like kind of a shame that you as an apparent hobbyist would stick your neck out like that.
-Subscribers J.A. and M.A.
P.S. A good bullshit meter, in my opinion, is to see if Rush Limbaugh has said anything about this. Indeed he has. Bing Bing Bing! Bullshit meter just went off!
One-Minute Astronomer (OMA): You miss the point. We are skeptical. Of every point of view. That’s the proper attitude of a scientist. And remember… despite what Al Gore says, there is no “Law of Climate Change” similar to Newton’s “Law of Gravity”. We don’t claim to be climate scientists. We are simply humble reporters of science, and we cited two recent studies of the effect of the sun on Earth’s climate, both of which are published in reputable scientific journals. We do understand and we have been (through firsthand professional experience) humbled by nature’s complexity. Call us all the nasty names you wish, but remember… the best computer model in the world cannot tell you with any certainty what the weather will be next week, never mind what the climate will be like in 100 years. It’s simply the nature of coupled non-linear dynamic systems. Even when all the variables are known, the only thing that can be predicted about complex systems like the Earth’s climate is that they are unpredictable. Re: Look up the 3-variable model of the Lorenz oscillator. Only 3 variables. Totally unpredictable result.
And sure, we’re “hobbyists”. But it’s a sad day indeed when educated citizens like us should feel intimidated and ashamed to venture a considered opinion about matters of global importance. We’ve seen what mischief “experts” can do to the world when left unattended. Squashing debate does no one any good at all…
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Dear Brian
That was an interesting article and a theory I haven’t heard before, although I have long been a disbeliever that greenhouse gases are the sole cause of global warming. Some 25/30 years ago, (I’m not sure of the year) but it was long before the current hype about climate change, I saw a new year lecture about Climate change and how Global Warming occurred in cycles, so as a result, I am a firm believer that the Governments of the world are using scaremongering tactics about this in order to increase taxes. Although I also believe that it is not a bad thing to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that we emit into the atmosphere.
- Subscriber A. T.
OMA: Agreed. The world was warmer 70 million years ago, through natural causes. But there are many excellent reasons to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And you’ll find no editors of One-Minute Astronomer driving gas-guzzling SUV’s, that’s for sure. No Rush Limbaugh fans here either.
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Hello, the One Minute Astronomer Team
Your commentary suggesting sunspots may be linked to rises and falls in the Earth’s temperature was a breath of fresh (possibly cool) air in a world currently blowing a lot of hot air out of its collective nether regions. If only we could get all those loonies currently spewing so-called words of wisdom at the UN to understand such a basic law of nature (that is, the sun is king), we, those poor folks in the real world, might just be able to live out our lives without suffering unnecessary and massive tax increases and huge curtailments in our standard of living in order to save us from a perfectly natural process. Remember all that nonsense about the coming ice age in the seventies? Okay, perhaps you’re not that old. As for “loonies currently spewing so-called words of wisdom,” the Spanish prime-minister (excuse my laughter) informed the world that the current recession was caused by global warming. I live in Spain, and he’s no joke… believe me.
Love your work. Keep it up.
Regards,
- Subscriber T. J. V.
OMA: We are certainly old enough to remember the “global cooling” scare of the 1970′s. It was the scientific consensus of the day. We recall a long report in Newsweek, citing eminent scientists that the glaciers were coming. Common knowledge. A sure thing. All bunk. That’s why we retain a healthy skepticism about all scientific opinion. Experience (and nature) is a good teacher.
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Sir or Madame,
You are totally wrong..
The reason for Global warming in the 1900′s was all the hot air that was constantly coming out of Washington DC.
I am surprised you missed this factor!
-Subscriber J. C. W.
OMA: You, um, comment on matters outside our expertise. But you may have something…
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