Community | May 15, 2009 | 10 comments

Climate-Change Skeptics Proved Wrong (Again): Sun Nixed As Cause

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pjacobs51
Yet another climate-denying claim has been scientifically shown the door, although this is expected to have as much effect as a trigonometric proof on a charging bull. Skeptics have been saying that global temperature rises might be due to changes in the sun, pretty much the ultimate "it wasn't us, a big boy did it," with a giant fusion reactor as the elusive culprit. Researchers have shown that this isn't the case and unlike the original claim their work involves advanced computer models, a distinct lack of the word "might", and has been published in Science.

Professors Peter Adams and Jeff Pierce did a bunch of things that those throwing around the solar excuse didn't:
a) They did detailed work analyzing the actual effects of such activity
b) They actually understood what such effects would really even be
c) They rigorously applied scientific procedures to this research, constructed computer models, and would have reported the results either away
d) They spent many, many years earning PhDs in scientific research and the title of "Professor."
We have to say, d) is our favorite.

The whole point of the original claim isn't any actual merit, just the fact that there were no models on the effects of changing solar activity on the atmosphere - so people who seriously stand up in public and say "Six billion monkeys setting fire to things has absolutely no effect on the air" could wave their arms and say "SOLAR blahblah COSMIC RAYS blablah (don't limit our emissions) blah!". Luckily, scientists have a way of taking that sort of thing and instead of shouting back - which the skeptics are professionals at - actually testing the hypotheses. Like it was some kind of "science" process designed to boil out biases and arrive at the truth or something.

The simulations show that the effects of cosmic rays from the sun are barely 1% of what they'd have to be to explain what we've seen. The scientists are even one step ahead of the slimy "maybe-sorta" game, admitting their simulations can't account for everything that exists, becuase nothing could ever do that (including their opponents' arguments), but pointing out that nothing omitted missed could skew the results enough to appreciably alter the results.

So the scientists have proven something to be bullshit, but since we live in a world where phone psychics still exist we'll have to wait and see whether that actually affects anything.
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10 comments // Climate-Change Skeptics Proved Wrong (Again): Sun Nixed As Cause

  • JaetheFirst
    • 0
      JaetheFirst  
    • Climate Change is all too real.

      Though, Earth is NOT the only planet in this solar system experiencing climate change...

      The Sun is preparing for something big.

      :)

    • 3 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • This was already posted like a week ago.

      And the article was right on, deniers were STILL saying that it was happening. It's a not matter of fact for them, they oppose this stuff on principle.

      It's not that they don't find the evidence convincing, it CAN'T be true to these kinds of people. It's like creationism, just mindless derision of science that inconveniences their political philosophy.

    • 3 years ago
  • pjacobs51
    • 0
      pjacobs51  
    • Saladin:

      I posted a similar article about a week ago from a different source. I just like the way this guy writes . . .

      "Six billion monkeys setting fire to things has absolutely no effect on the air"

    • 3 years ago
  • futuregen
  • sue4e3
    • 0
      sue4e3  
    • I have had a couple of responses (as everyone can read) that perhaps I'm putting off that I do not care and have done nothing .just to set the record straight I quit driving,I changed my lightbulbs every where and have replaced family and friends who could not afford it, I also cut my families meat and meat product consumption in half(along with my electric bill).I'm a member(donating) of several enviromental org. including the arbor day foundation and I plant at least 10 trees a year.I am not saying this to boast because thier are people who put me to shame .I am saying those changes were easy everyone should try it . what I meant before was helplessness begets helplessness

    • 3 years ago
  • sue4e3
    • 0
      sue4e3  
    • I think you will have no deniers when you give the population something other than hybrids and lightbulbs (something that works) .it's a little bit like that duct tape and plastic sheet thing for bioterrorism.why bother if it makes no differance

    • 3 years ago
  • wirehedd
    • 0
      wirehedd  
    • sue4e3:

      It's not a single solution problem. Hybrids reduce emissions and lower CO2 in the atmosphere, CFL and LED technologies reduce electricity consumption and reduce the need for coal fired electricity. There is no single magic bullet. There has to be a change in the habits of everyone. People who are waiting for that magic bullet are either fools or just to lazy to care.

      The idea that "we can't afford to spend that" is idiotic in the extreme as well. You can afford to not have a planet instead?

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
    • 0
      Vierotchka  
    • sue4e3:

      Low energy light bulbs make a heck of a difference, as my electricity bill has amply demonstrated - the change from ordinary to low energy light bulbs has reduced my electricity bills by three quarters. If everybody uses them, far less electricity will be consumed, which will mean that in countries such as the USA which rely on coal plants to produce electricity, the amount of coal used will be greatly reduced. Furthermore, the use of low energy light bulbs makes solar and other alternative energy use much more effective since they consume so much less electricity than do ordinary light bulbs.

    • 3 years ago
  • wirehedd
  • Jeffnfun631
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