Daily Science Dose

First, let me begin by saying that yes, I do believe that anthropogenic activity is creating a dangerous imbalance in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. But do I think that everything can be chalked up to global warming or that we are all going to die from global warming, then the answer is no.

Global warming is not going to kill us all, but it will kill some and it will make life on this planet a heck of a lot more difficult for many, many others. But the most important thing is that any imbalance creates further imbalance in other systems, and by continuing to pump more and more GHG into our air, we are mucking up the system, which will lead to other systems going out of whack. If there were only a few of us living on this planet, then we would be able to migrate to other areas when our homes get flooded from rising seas or pull up stakes and leave an arable agricultural area turned desert from a shift in ocean currents (Australia anyone?)

Well, it seems that researchers are alarmed at the extent of the solar minimum going on. And with less sun activity, that means that less of the sun’s heat is hitting the planet. It’s true that the sun goes through cycles, but this is an unusually long minima, which scientists call a grand minima if it’s long enough.

The disappearance of sunspots happens every few years, but this time it’s gone on far longer than anyone expected – and there is no sign of the Sun waking up. “This is the lowest we’ve ever seen. We thought we’d be out of it by now, but we’re not,” says Marc Hairston of the University of Texas. And it’s not just the sunspots that are causing concern. There is also the so-called solar wind – streams of particles the Sun pours out – that is at its weakest since records began. In addition, the Sun’s magnetic axis is tilted to an unusual degree. “This is the quietest Sun we’ve seen in almost a century,” says NASA solar scientist David Hathaway. But this is not just a scientific curiosity. It could affect everyone on Earth and force what for many is the unthinkable: a reappraisal of the science behind recent global warming. –The Independent

Here’s the kicker. The last solar maximum ended right around the end of the last century. And some researchers are showing data that shows that the Earth’s temperature has tapered off since that time, so if the current solar minimum is holding global temps in check, then maybe, just maybe this whole global warming thing is false alarm.

I foresee this solar minimum issue becoming the next talking points for the climate sceptics on their next round on the talkshow circuit.

Ok, I’m going out on a limb here. Let’s say that yes, the Sun is going into a cooling period and we can buy some time before the full effects of the Carbon Crisis are felt. That might just be our only chance to ensure that we can curb our reliance on living fat of the oily and gaseous land, and start reversing some of the damage we have inflicted on our closed-ecosystem. Global warming may be held off, but for how long? For every Minimum, there is a Maximum. And if when that next Maximum hits, will we be worse off due to inaction and inertia, or could we be ready for it?

Just sayin’ is all.

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