February 11, 2007
EVOLUTION IS AN EXTERNAL PHENOMENON:
Cosmic rays blamed for global warming (Richard Gray, 2/11/07, Sunday Telegraph)
Man-made climate change may be happening at a far slower rate than has been claimed, according to controversial new research.Scientists say that cosmic rays from outer space play a far greater role in changing the Earth's climate than global warming experts previously thought.
In a book, to be published this week, they claim that fluctuations in the number of cosmic rays hitting the atmosphere directly alter the amount of cloud covering the planet.
High levels of cloud cover blankets the Earth and reflects radiated heat from the Sun back out into space, causing the planet to cool.
Henrik Svensmark, a weather scientist at the Danish National Space Centre who led the team behind the research, believes that the planet is experiencing a natural period of low cloud cover due to fewer cosmic rays entering the atmosphere.
This, he says, is responsible for much of the global warming we are experiencing.
Posted by Orrin Judd at February 11, 2007 9:52 AM
Guess that trumps my theory about Ming the Merciless and the death ray form Planet Mongo.
Posted by: jdkelly at February 11, 2007 2:29 PMWhile cosmic rays might be a secondary factor on Earth, the primary factor is solar variation since Mars is warming and cloudiness is not at issue there..
Posted by: jd watson at February 11, 2007 3:02 PMI blame the Fantastic Four.
Posted by: Just John at February 11, 2007 5:50 PM