Who has heard of global dimming

There are two parts to this Ron, one is as you pointed out the surface temperature increases when reflective clouds are not formed. The other is the heating of the upper atmosphere when pollutants are warmed and hold the heat rather than allowing it to be radiated into space. Even the cloud itself is a source of released heat. Water Vapor is transparent, and allows the heat to pass through. Clouds are water droplets, they capture the heat and only release it when they evaporate. I believe the formula is 212 calories per CC of water released into the atmosphere when that water evaporates, or absorbed from the atmosphere when it condenses. (The number might be wrong, I am remembering it from a Physics class in 1960.)

thanks for sharing

Ron?

Very Scary!

Ron must be the one who didn't see the show so he needs it all explained to him from scratch.

Very interesting info. Thanks for informing us uninformed ppl!

Well, we all know that this world is going to end one way or the other.... My bet is for sooner rather than later. But you can just call me a pessimist.

Great point.

It's an important point... good piece Peter

Now this is interesting, Im going to have to check it out!

Thanks Peter for explaining this - I had never heard of global dimming myself.

Most greenhouse gas is accompanied by some form of particulate matter. I have heard that this causes cloud formation. Does this change anything? I hav eno idea. Global warming is a very complex thing. But reduction of any and all pollution is certainly a good thing.

Thank you for sharing this. I had seen part of the program. I hope they run it again.

Yes, I've seen that special. Damned if we do and damned if we don't...

I never knew about dimming until I finally saw the re-run of the special. Otherwise I just thought the show was going to be about sun spots or something "out there" at the sun.

It's kind of like smoking cigarettes. They say after you've smoked for 10 years, you shouldn't quit, because cancer grows on oxygen.

But you gotta quit pollution.

ha ha - and the body HAS to have oxygen!

Wow I didn't really know about this. Thanks for sharing.

heh. I thought you were referring to PEOPLE.

Very interesting facts here. Thanks.

Good info Peter/Ron (hee hee hee) thanks for sharing. I dont think I understand the whole "the world is going to end sooner or later" idea. I know that we do not know the certainty of the future. I know that some Bibles speak of Revelations, and for those who believe it they can believe that the world will end one day, but that is not a known certain fact. Why in this day and age would we not take steps to look for problems that we may be able to correct? I mean I dont want to leave this world a worse place for my children and any future generations (related to me or not) to suffer because I was too lazy or politically biased to do the right thing.

I really miss the "American" can do attitude that used to apply to this type of situation. CFCs are causing a whole in the ozone. US based companies started producing their products without CFC's Consumers started buying these products and a difference was made. The United States acting on it's own made a difference! No bombs were dropped, big business was not harmed, it was all good. Now too many people want to act like it is a political party thing.

Let's just run naked through the fields, work in gardens together, and enjoy granola, basket-weaving, and hair-braiding all day. Woo-hoo!

Very interesting! Thanks for the information! I hadn't heard about or considered these things!

I'm with Erin!

Fascinating.

thx 4 sharing

I saw this also. I was amazed that 9/11 revealed this.

PJS, you have an amazingly eclectic set of interests. I'm impressed by your knowledge of science.

Wow, I'd never heard of global dimming. Very interesting article!

I recently saw a PBS rerun on global dimming - but the facts about 9/11 and the temps going up as a result of no airtravel is something worth noting and investigating further, imho.