Science vs. Politicians

A group of Danish scientists suggests that global warming is caused by the Sun.  Their findings, published this week in the prestigious Proceedings of the Royal Society A, are likely to cause consternation among politicians who would prefer that scientists not interfere with their belief systems.

The theory in brief is that: (a) increased solar magnetic activity helps shield the Earth from cosmic rays; (b) With fewer cosmic rays reaching the Earth's atmosphere, fewer molecules are ionized; (c) With fewer ions, then fewer water clusters nucleate; (d) With fewer water clusters, then fewer clouds form; (e) With less cloud cover, more of the Sun's light reaches Earth causing more warming.  The lead scientist on this project, Henrik Svensmark, says the current warm temperatures could be because we currently "have the highest solar activity we have had in at least 1,000 years."

Both Jupiter and Mars show indications that they are experiencing global warming, an issue that cannot be explained by excessive use of SUVs but could be explained by the Sun.

UPDATE Feb 13 '07: A House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hearing on "warming of the planet" scheduled for tomorrow was postponed due snow/ice/freezing rain storm.