Read other letters about this article

• Wednesday, July 2, 2008 04:15 PM

  Keep an open mind, stet

  Hi Stet,

  Solar forcing has played a role in 20th century warming, as many cited studies show. The 20th century was a period of unusually high solar activity (highest in 8,000 years according to some studies).

  The exact mechanisms (other than TSI alone) are not yet known, and work is underway at CERN to validate (or refute) the Svensmark hypothesis of cosmic rays linked to cloud formation. Other mechanisms have been suggested linking UV radiation to ozone formation, but these have also not been validated.

  IPCC has admitted to a “low level of scientific understanding” when it comes to solar forcing, which they limit to TSI and to an insignificant RF of 0.12 W/m^2.

  IPCC also concedes that clouds remain the greatest source of uncertainty.

  The CERN work may help raise the “level of scientific understanding” of both solar forcing and clouds and should, therefore, be welcomed by all who would like to gain more knowledge about Earth’s climate and what makes it “tick”.

  All of the above in no way argues that CO2 has not played a role, and that at least part of the CO2 impact (if not all) is likely anthropogenic in origin.

  I see no conflict here, stet.

  We do not know all there is to know about what drives our climate. There is probably a lot more that we do not yet know than there is that we do know.

  To close our eyes and ears to anything new out there and claim “the science is settled” would violate all the principles of the scientific method and would be downright foolish.

  Any disagreement?

  Regards,

  Max

  —manacker Read manacker's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel