The following in that piece is either incredibly ill informed or a lie:
“In general, studies indicate changes in solar output affect climate during periods lasting decades or centuries, ‘but this interpretation is controversial because it is not based on any understanding of the relevant physical processes,’ study member Schuessler told SPACE.com.”
Sunspots are an indicator of solar magnetic activity. Low sunspot activity means a weaker magnetic field. The sun’s magnetic field shields the Earth from cosmic rays coming in from outside the solar system. So this means more cosmic rays reach Earth. This is all very well know science.
Now, why does that matter? Because cosmic rays play an important role in cloud formation: When a cosmic ray strikes a dust particle, the particle becomes charged. This in turn attracts water vapor, thereby forming a water droplet. These form clouds. This process has been duplicated in laboratory conditions.
Note that this does not mean MORE water vapor in the atmosphere, it means the water vapor there forms more clouds. This increase in clouds reflect sunlight away from the Earth, cause rain, and otherwise cool the planet.
Now, AGW cultists will deny this, but ALL of these steps are experimentally proven PHYSICS. Not computer modeling, not theory, but calculated, tested, and repeatably verified PHYSICS.
Short version: The ginormous ball of thermonuclear fire in the sky affects the climate. Gee, what a radical idea!!!
The following in that piece is either incredibly ill informed or a lie:
It's citing one side and then the opposition to it. So, the article is not as ill-informed as some of those who are quoted in opposition to the idea.
All that is doing is showing that there is opposition to it. You don't have to believe the opposition. That's science, anyway. You're going to have competing theories as to what "makes things work" the way they do.
It's just, in this particular case (of climate change...) I'm not on the side of the proponents of AGW (Anthropogenic Global Warming).
Now, AGW cultists will deny this, but ALL of these steps are experimentally proven PHYSICS. Not computer modeling, not theory, but calculated, tested, and repeatably verified PHYSICS.
Well, that's the position of the video documentary that I supplied up above, The Great Global Warming Swindle... :-)
It's as I've put down in simplistic form...
sunspots --> solar winds --> cosmic rays --> clouds
as the mechanism for cooling and warming on this earth (in an abbreviated fashion)...