“We are all seeing rather less of the Sun, according to scientists
who have been looking at five decades of sunlight measurements.” The amount of sunlight reaching earth’s
surface is gradually falling, strangely meaning that global warming is a bigger
threat to earth than believed before. English scientist Gerry Stanhill, working
in Israel, first spotted this effect.
Between 1950 to the present, sunlight
has dropped 22% in Israel, 10% in America, 30% in the Soviet Union, and 16%
drop in the British Isles. On average, sunlight has decreased 2% every decade. This
data was backed by Australian scientists. “Dimming appears to be
caused by air pollution.” Visible air pollution can be caused by burning wood,
coal, and oil. These visible air pollutants reflect sunlight back to space,
which keeps it from reaching the surface. It also changes clouds because the
burned partials start the formation of water droplets, making polluted clouds
bigger than unpolluted. Likewise, Polluted clouds are more reflective. The clouds
keep the oceans from getting full influence from the sun, disrupting the world’s
rainfall. This can affect monsoon season in Asia, killing thousands. “But it
now appears the warming from greenhouse gases has been offset by a strong
cooling effect from dimming - in effect two of our pollutants have been
cancelling each other out.” This means that “scientists have underestimated the
true power of the green house effect.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4171591.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4171591.stm
Wow, I didn't know that we had lost sunlight due to air poluttion. I certainly don't want to lose any sunlight, I can only handle the cold for so long!
ReplyDeleteIt's already hard enough for me to get a tan from the amount of sunlight we get. We totally need to make sure this problem gets more public attention, not just because of my tan but because the sun is the main source of energy for living. Its number one on many food chains. With less sun many living organisms would be affected.
ReplyDeleteWe have too many problems on our hand. I dont think sunlight is a problem. 5 decades of study is not enough to make a statement like that. The sun has been bringing a lot of heat in the last decade. That counters the global warming theory. I don't know what to believe these days.
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