| There is an awful lot of differing scientific opinion in | | | | from 100-150 years ago. For the last 20 years |
| regard to the causes of Global Warming. Sometimes | | | | however, sunspot activity has remained constant and |
| it is difficult for the average citizen to glean the truth | | | | steady and cannot be contributing to the increase in |
| from the miasma of scientific opinion. There is a | | | | the Earth's temperature. Over the 11 year cycle of |
| plethora of theory and speculation. The following is a | | | | the Sun, there is only a 1/10 of a degree change in |
| brief in regard to the latest debate on the cause of | | | | its temperature. Not nearly enough to be the cause |
| Global Warming in relation to the Sun. | | | | of Global Warming. |
| It has become apparent that other planetary bodies | | | | There are explainable reasons why the other planets |
| in the Solar System have also been warming as well | | | | are warming. |
| as Earth. This odd phenomena may only have been | | | | Jupiter is currently experiencing an increase in storm |
| noticed because our own planet is warming, causing | | | | activity, which churns up warmer gases from lower in |
| scientists to take a closer look at our neighbouring | | | | its thick atmosphere, which are heated by internal |
| orbs and the activity of the Sun. It has been noted | | | | forces, thereby increasing the surface temperature |
| that Neptune, Titan, Pluto, Jupiter and Mars are also | | | | signature of the planet. Titan is also experiencing |
| warming, the reason why there has been speculation | | | | increased storm activity. Neptune is moving closer to |
| about the Sun perhaps playing a contributing role in | | | | the Sun in its orbital cycle. Pluto is experiencing |
| the warming up of our own planet. | | | | increased eruptive activity, increasing its surface |
| The Sun does vary in irradiance and on occasion may | | | | temperature. Mars is an uncertainty it seems, but also |
| go through cooler and warmer periods of activity. For | | | | wobbles on its orbital path, as does Earth so the |
| instance, there was what is called, a "Little Ice Age" | | | | noticeable decreases in the Ice Caps may be due to |
| over Europe and North America for a period of 350 | | | | normal seasonal changes. Some scientists are |
| years, called a Maunder Minimum. Beginning in 1645, | | | | speculating however, that Mars may be coming out |
| for a period of 75 years, coinciding with the Little Ice | | | | of an Ice Age. |
| Age, astronomers recorded almost no sunspot | | | | Over all, the consensus seems to be that there is |
| activity at all. Sun spots can increase the irradiation | | | | not enough evidence to support the theory that |
| factor of the Sun's energy output, but this activity is | | | | solar activity is having any effect on global warming. |
| still not enough to be a major cause of Earth's | | | | It plays a small role in Earth's warming, combined with |
| warming. Solar radiation output can indirectly induce | | | | the effects of industrialization, but not nearly enough |
| chemical changes to greenhouse gases in the Earth's | | | | to be a contributing factor to the current warming |
| atmosphere and cause modulations of H2o,CO2 and | | | | trend. The responsibility for that rests on our |
| CH4 etc, but not enough to create a global warming | | | | shoulders. We are pumping too much greenhouse gas |
| event. Warming of the oceans melts the ice sheets | | | | into the atmosphere and we remain the leading cause |
| and hence may increase cloud cover patterns, which | | | | of the planet's plight. Blame cannot be shifted on to |
| increase the greenhouse effect. | | | | any other unsuspecting candidate in the Solar |
| According to a recent German survey, the Sun has | | | | System. It is a mess we have created for ourselves |
| been hotter over the last 60 years and was cooler | | | | and we have to be the ones to clean it up. |