Salvondia
27-03-2005, 09:19
:D The "Global Dimming" Effect :D
Billions of particles of soot and ash suspended in the air have reflected sunlight away, effectively shading the planet's surface.
Ironically, the world's drive to use cleaner fuels and energy may pose a new threat. The research by Australian National University biologist Professor Graham Farquhar has discovered the pollution has protected the world from the full effects of global warming - the so-called greenhouse effect.
Once they are removed, temperatures will rise by as much as 10C by the end of the century, rendering parts of the globe uninhabitable.
"In the 1990s, scientists spotted something very strange - the rate of evaporation was falling," Canberra-based Professor Farquhar said.
"They found it was the energy of the photons hitting the surface, the actual sunlight, that kicks the water molecules into the atmosphere."
Widespread use of cleaner fuels will lead to the skies clearing, and more sunlight flooding in.
Dr Peter Cox from the London-based Met Office said this could prove catastrophic.
"The cooling pollutants are dropping off while the warming pollutant [carbon dioxide] is going up, meaning we will get an accelerated warming.
"We'll get a double whammy. That's a problem for us."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12661095-421,00.html
:D
Mind you I don't personally believe in Humans affecting the Earth's climate that much either way but this is too funny.
Billions of particles of soot and ash suspended in the air have reflected sunlight away, effectively shading the planet's surface.
Ironically, the world's drive to use cleaner fuels and energy may pose a new threat. The research by Australian National University biologist Professor Graham Farquhar has discovered the pollution has protected the world from the full effects of global warming - the so-called greenhouse effect.
Once they are removed, temperatures will rise by as much as 10C by the end of the century, rendering parts of the globe uninhabitable.
"In the 1990s, scientists spotted something very strange - the rate of evaporation was falling," Canberra-based Professor Farquhar said.
"They found it was the energy of the photons hitting the surface, the actual sunlight, that kicks the water molecules into the atmosphere."
Widespread use of cleaner fuels will lead to the skies clearing, and more sunlight flooding in.
Dr Peter Cox from the London-based Met Office said this could prove catastrophic.
"The cooling pollutants are dropping off while the warming pollutant [carbon dioxide] is going up, meaning we will get an accelerated warming.
"We'll get a double whammy. That's a problem for us."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12661095-421,00.html
:D
Mind you I don't personally believe in Humans affecting the Earth's climate that much either way but this is too funny.