SOOT FROM POOR COUNTRIES COULD CAUSE HALF OF GLOBAL WARMING

NCPA Daily Policy Digest ^ | May 6, 2003 | John J. Fialka

[bruinbirdman]

POLITICS STALLS GLOBAL WARMING RESEARCH

As much as half of any artificial global warming that may be due to human activity is caused by the long-distance travel of airborne soot and similar pollutants, says meteorologist James R. Mahoney, assistant secretary of commerce and coordinator of climate change research for the Bush administration.

But research into the phenomenon is being stalled by the politics of global warming, as India in February 2003 persuaded the United Nations Environment Program to drop research efforts. The United States objected to the proposed 1997 Kyoto climate change protocols because they did not require mandatory reductions in emissions of so-called greenhouse gases by developing countries. Indian officials are reported to be concerned that such research bolsters the U.S. case.

The two-mile thick, continent-size cloud over the Indian Ocean -- dubbed the "Asian Brown Cloud" -- was discovered in 1999 by Indian scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan.

o The reigning theory of "aerosols" -- airborne particles such as soot -- was that they soon drop from the sky, leaving the earth's atmosphere relatively pristine.

o Scientists previously believed only greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide could be carried by prevailing winds for thousands of miles from their source.

o But Ramanathan's six-week, $25 million experiment discovered the cloud -- at some points more than 1,000 miles from the source.

o The research suggests that the cloud could reduce sunlight hitting the earth in that area by as much as 15 percent and cut rainfall over much of Asia by up to 40 percent.

Asian pollution contains dark soot from hundreds of millions of dung-fueled cooking fires and inefficient coal furnaces. Soot warms the upper air by absorbing sunlight and artificially cools the earth's surface. This can cause regional droughts due to less evaporation from the cooler ocean.

Source: John J. Fialka, "Discovery of 'Asian Brown Cloud' Over Indian Ocean Sets Off Fight," Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2003.

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[Tijeras_Slim]

Ok 'fess up... who gave these folks fire.

[Grampa Dave]

marlon, you asked where Al Bore was.

Well below is the last known photo of Al Bore. He is trying to paddle his new bulletproof tank, er kayak that Bob the Nailer, Ernest at the Beach, Shermy and I sold to him. We guaranteed that if he used an oar to paddle his new tank, er Kayak, he would not contribute to Global Warming.

[The Great RJ]

Imagine all the soot and other supposed greenhouse gases deposited in the atmosphere during the years 1939-1945 as a result of WW-II (not to mention 3 atomic bombs). Is there any evidence that this instense deposition of atomospheric pollutants caused global warming/cooling during or in the years immediately following the war?

[Grampa Dave]

Don't you have a great Soylent Green posting?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Great post, you beat me to it. The greatest part of this pollution coming from the EXEMPT from Kyoto protocol countries of China and India.

---

This is so true.....and something the Kyotomaniacs and Enviro-Nazis never mention

Kyoto Treaty is not an enviromental treaty....its an income-redistribution treaty.....a way for 3d World and near-3d World countries to extract wealth and weaken developed nations

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL!!!

[Trace21230]

"It took a scientist to see this?"

Yup, and probably $100 million dollars worth of pork-barrel spending to fund the research.

Trace

[Tijeras_Slim]

Tasty....

[Grampa Dave]

It took a scientist and 25 million $'s (probably our tax $'s) to see this cloud.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Check this out:

Winter in Big Cities of the East Ranked Among the Coldest Since 1950 -

[Grampa Dave]

Thank you sire. I started to ping you, but you usually show up at these interesting Global Warming threads.

Bob the Nailer, let them eat Soylent Green!

[BOBTHENAILER]

Kyoto Treaty is not an enviromental treaty....its an income-redistribution treaty.....a way for 3d World and near-3d World countries to extract wealth and weaken developed nations

No dung (sh!t for the less sensitive on FR). Obviously, your quote represents my sentiments exactly. I'll ping you to today's interesting excerpts from the US energy side.

[Tijeras_Slim]

LOL! I usually check out any thread you're posting to!

[Grampa Dave]

We have fun blasting shredding the lying libs when we team up!