Global Dimming
Is it time to put away your solar panels?
According to a recent piece from BBC News, We are all seeing rather less of the Sun, according to scientists who have been looking at five decades of sunlight measurements. They have reached the disturbing conclusion that the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth's surface has been gradually falling. Paradoxically, the decline in sunlight may mean that global warming is a far greater threat to society than previously thought.
According to a recent piece from BBC News, We are all seeing rather less of the Sun, according to scientists who have been looking at five decades of sunlight measurements. They have reached the disturbing conclusion that the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth's surface has been gradually falling. Paradoxically, the decline in sunlight may mean that global warming is a far greater threat to society than previously thought.
Sunlight was falling by 10% over the USA, nearly 30% in parts of the former Soviet Union, and even by 16% in parts of the British Isles. Although the effect varied greatly from place to place, overall the decline amounted to one to two per cent globally every decade between the 1950s and the 1990s. This phenomenon has been called "global dimming."
3 Comments. Add your comments!
Does this have somethign to do with pollutants in the air?
By Scott, at 11:49 AM, February 04, 2005
Yes, according to the aricle, dimming appears to be caused by air pollution. Burning coal, oil and wood (whether in cars, power stations or cooking fires) produces carbon dioxide and tiny airborne particles of soot, ash, sulphur compounds and other pollutants.
The latter, this visible air pollution, reflects sunlight back into space preventing it from reaching the surface of the planet. And the pollution also changes the optical properties of clouds; recent research shows that they are becoming more reflective as well.
Scientists are now worried that dimming, by shielding the oceans from the full power of the Sun, may be disrupting the pattern of the world's rainfall, leading to further droughts.
By Nathan, at 12:03 PM, February 04, 2005
I guess this is good for skin cancer rates.
By Scott, at 4:31 PM, February 28, 2005
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