Posted on 06/25/2007 6:30:07 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
So the science of global warming is "settled," eh? Chill, Al Gore. We're heading into an era of global cooling. R. Timothy Patterson, Ph.D., is a real scientist and director of the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, at Carleton University.
"Solar scientists predict that, by 2020, the sun will be starting into its weakest Schwabe solar cycle of the past two centuries, likely leading to unusually cool conditions on Earth. Beginning to plan for adaptation to such a cool period ... should be a priority for governments.
"It is global cooling, not warming, that is the major climate threat to the world ... ," he says.
Hundreds of studies, Dr. Patterson says, indicate that the sun drives climate change. "By comparison (carbon dioxide) variations show little correlation with our planet's climate on long, medium and even short time scales."
How does the sun affect climate? During high sunspot periods, solar output increases, providing more heat. The stronger solar wind shields the planet from cosmic rays.
Cosmic rays contribute to the formation of clouds. With less cloud cover, an even greater amount of heat arrives.
In periods of solar cooling, the higher levels of cosmic rays stimulate cloud formation, reducing further the energy reaching us.
As we learn more about climate, the "settled" conclusions of global-warming alarmists appear more ridiculous.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
yup, handy item...
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