More unsettled 'settled science' - Solar UV variability bigger role than thought.

**kramer** · 10-10-2011

Research from the Met Office has shed new light on a link between decadal solar variability and winter climate in the UK, northern Europe and parts of America.

The study, carried out with Imperial College London and the University of Oxford, shows that low UV output from the sun can contribute to cold winters over parts of the northern hemisphere, such as recently seen in the UK. Years of higher UV have the opposite effect.

Adam Scaife, one of the scientists involved in the research, said that while some studies have observed a link between solar variability and winter climate, our research establishes this as more than just coincidence.

He said: "We've been able to reproduce a consistent climate pattern, confirm how it works, and quantify it using a computer model based on the laws of physics. This isn't the sole driver of winter climate over our region, but it is a significant factor and understanding it is important for seasonal to decadal forecasting."

New data from sensitive satellite equipment shows UV variability over the 11-year solar cycle may be much larger than previously thought and has been key to the research.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research...ar-variability

Simulations with a climate model using new observations of solar variability suggest a substantial influence of the Sun on the winter climate in the Northern Hemisphere.
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v...f/ngeo1298.pdf

So, the highest levels of CO2 in millions of years isn't going to keep us from freezing our democrats off? I thought CO2 was the all-powerful warming gas?

**TomBlaze** · 10-21-2011

You obviously do not have a very good grasp of the subject. I suggest reading up on climatology, climate change and greenhouse gasses before asking stupid questions. Here are a few bullet points. I'll try to keep it simple for you:

1. Climate cycles worldwide are changing....this is confirmed for certain. As in no doubt at all
2. Climate change comes in many flavors: greenhouse gas emissions (methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc) from both natural phenomenon and man-made constructs, solar cycles and earths slight wobble on it's axis as well as other things most likely beyond your comprehension
3. It is also fact that the earth is in a warming trend (warmed up by 0.2º - 0.3º Celsius). It's not even debatable unless you count stupid people with money on the line spreading propaganda. And, no...just because it gets cold one day it doesn't mean AGW is a hoax. In fact, global warming can actually lead to an ice age or cold snap when it hits a tipping point

There you go. The truth is that the earth is most likely in a natural state of change but it is being exacerbated by human industry. The alarming part is the rate at which it can escalate especially where the permafrost on the tundra regions is melting which can release large volumes of methane into the atmosphere which is a far more intense greenhouse gas. Add to that the unusual amount of volcanic erutptions ejection metric tons of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into the mix.

The reason why this is such a contentious debate is that big oil and the auto industry do not want renewable energy technology to go mainstream because they make too much money manipulating the price of finite energy sources like oil and coal. Not much money to be made when people have solar panels and wind generators powering their homes and charging their electric cars. No way to control or manipulate it.

It is the same reason why big pharma does not want pot to be made legal. People would be able to grow pot in the house and have remedies for headaches, nausea, glaucoma, insomnia, lack of appetite and even sore throats.

**kramer** · 10-22-2011