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To: Tarpon

Indeed, the higher heats on other planets would be indicative of higher solar output.

But then again, how is it, precisely, that we measure higher temperatures from those planets? We don't have sensors on Pluto. Do we, rather, measure the reflected energy from them that we detect here? Our weakening magnetic field lets in more of the sun's energy. It also lets in more of the reflected energy from other planets.
The sensors are here, not there.


126 posted on 02/11/2007 8:02:38 AM PST by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: Vicomte13
For far-off observations, it's done by astronomy. With Mars it done with orbiting satellites.

The weakening magnetic filed is one component, if it actually goes to zero as the poles switch, effects move into the unknowable column.

One recent study has shown that cosmic rays from exploding distant stars have an effect. There was one recent paper that said had a recently observed explosion been directed at Earth, all life on Earth would have been extinguished. A small probability, but nonetheless real.

Mark Twain:

"It’s not the things we don’t know that fool us. It’s the things we do know that ain’t so."
127 posted on 02/11/2007 8:57:46 AM PST by Tarpon
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To: Vicomte13
But then again, how is it, precisely, that we measure higher temperatures from those planets? We don't have sensors on Pluto.

Mars: We have had satellites orbiting the planet since the mid 1990's and we have been looking at it (especially those ice caps which have been shrinking) since the time of Galileo. All point to a warming trend.

Jupiter: Again, we have been looking at it since Galileo. Jupiter because it's big and close enough and because of its very fast rotation and near 0° inclination, the clouds form nice bands across the planet, so it's relatively easy to see any changes that are going on.

Triton & Pluto: We've been observing them at least since at the 1950's for Triton & 1970's for Pluto when telescopes got powerful enough, they are small enough that when they go around the sun they will often eclipse stars and when they do this (which is often enough) we can get a good picture of what's happening in their atmospheres.

These four bodies are the only ones that we have been able to observe their atmospheres over a long period of time. It would be an awfully huge coincidence that the 4 heavenly bodies we are able to observe all just happen to be also under going global warming.

128 posted on 02/11/2007 12:54:44 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: Vicomte13
"Our weakening magnetic field lets in more of the sun's energy. It also lets in more of the reflected energy from other planets."

Wrong. The sun's magnetic field only effects charged particles (cosmic rays). It doesn't retard photons (light rays) in the least--so we can measure the reflected ones just fine.

130 posted on 02/11/2007 1:49:42 PM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)
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