CERN’s 8,000 scientists may not be able to find the hypothetical Higgs boson, but they have made an important contribution to climate physics, prompting climate models to be revised.
The first results from the lab’s CLOUD (“Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets”) experiment published in Nature today confirm that cosmic rays spur the formation of clouds through ion-induced nucleation. Current thinking posits that half of the Earth’s clouds are formed through nucleation. The paper is entitled Role of sulphuric acid, ammonia and galactic cosmic rays in atmospheric aerosol nucleation.
This has significant implications for climate science because water vapour and clouds play a large role in determining global temperatures. Tiny changes in overall cloud cover can result in relatively large temperature changes.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a politically sensitive topic, as it provides support for a “heliocentric” rather than “anthropogenic” approach to climate change: the sun plays a large role in modulating the quantity of cosmic rays reaching the upper atmosphere of the Earth.
8000 that’s more than 2500 right?
Has there been a significant change in cosmic ray amounts?
Oh dear, real scientists doing real science. Whatever will the global warming fraudsters do.
And even if they’re wrong, the climate models don’t model clouds worth a crap making them worthless.
Who knew CERN was owned by the oil companies? /sarc
we shall soon find out what the sound of popping pinheads sounds like.
Cue Dr. Fruit Fly, Andy Weaver, all the Hollyhock Hippies.
The funny thing is that CERN is a bit of a left-wing, socialist sort of place. I visited their main laboratory once, many many years ago, when I was attending a conference. There were lots of euro-scientists working there, with very euro-centric, socialist ideas about the world.
Silly, knuckle-dragging, SDA ignoramuses. The science is settled, don’t ya know?
Canadian Dr. Timothy ball has been talking about this for years and he has been attacked and sued by environazis left and right…This is now only becoming mainstream.
Throw Suzuki in jail!
To some, this is an old story.
Could cosmic rays be causing global warming?
It’s cosmic rays
“In 1996 we discovered a surprising influence of the Sun – its impact on Earth’s cloud cover. High-energy accelerated particles coming from exploded stars, the cosmic rays, help to form clouds.
http://www.skepticalscience.com/cosmic-rays-and-global-warming.htm
Not only enviro nutjobs, Terry, but by radio talk show hosts.
A few years ago, I was listening to Bill Good on (Vancouver’s) CKNW. The topic was something to do with global warming, and a caller suggested Bill interview Tim Ball on the subject.
I was shocked to hear Bill, almost yelling, berate the caller. “Tim Ball is NOT an expert on global warming!” he screamed. I was shocked. I haven’t listened to CKNW or Good since (AM 790 out of Bellingham is so much better for my sanity, carrying Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity).
Good had definitely drank the AGW kool-ade and wasn’t going to brook any ‘nonsense’ to the contrary. I emailed both Good and CKNW explaining my reason for deleting their station from my car radio’s preset buttons.
@ RH Terry Tory
There is as yet no comprehensive mathematical descrpition of cloud formation…this is just the tip of the lightning bolt for climate scientology alarmists.
Dr Timothy Ball has been doing yeomans work on climate alarmism and is to be heartily commended.
More, Large Hadron Collider results please!
Cheers
Hans Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Imagine the climate may be heliocentric not anthropogenic – Ptolemy vs Copernicus, Part Deux. The Ptolemaic solar system also relied on models that ‘worked’ but were complicated and incorrect.
Todayanon – cosmic rays are constant, but during periods on increased sun activity they are defelcted away from earth meaning less cosmic ray intensity, fewer clouds and hotter earth. This has been the case for the last half of the 20th century and corresponds to the warming period. Alas the sun had gone quiet, so more cosmic radiation, clouds and colder temps. (as we have seen with no warming since 1998.
It doesn’t matter, Greg. The warmists claim that even if much of the modern warming/cooling is directly related to changes in cosmic rays we still need to do something – control sulfates, nitrogen (ammonia) that react with the cosmic radiation, deploy aerosols, paint your roof…something…anything. The thought of waiting for the science to mature or adapting to changes is horrifying to baptists and bootleggers.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/bootleggers-hijack-climate-change-debate/story-e6frgd0x-1226099304031
“”bootleggers and baptists” theory of politics.
The theory grew out of the experience of the southern US, where many jurisdictions required stores to close on Sunday, thus preventing the sale of alcohol. The regulation was supported by religious groups for moral reasons, but also by bootleggers, because they had the market to themselves on Sundays. Politicians would adopt the Baptists’ pious rhetoric, while quietly taking campaign contributions from the criminals.”
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
This is serious because it’s confirmation of Svensmark’s original experiments a few years ago. Every one of the existing climate models just became useless.
Yes, it does matter, LC. CERN is much too big an institution to be laughed off by the global warmers the way they tried to dismiss Svensmark. This is truly a big, big hit. CO2 has no significant warming effect on its own. The AGW theory needs CO2 to trigger additional water vapour and cloud cover through a feedback mechanism that has never been demonstrated. If cosmic radiation accounts for the amount and variability of cloud cover then the warmers’ feedback hypothesis just went up in smoke.
And a collection of tree rings ain’t gonna fix it.
Don’t misunderstand me, cgh. The CERN-CLOUD results (if confirmed) are devastating to the current AGW theory. The CO2 centered climate models, as you say, depended on a positive feedback mechanism from water vapour.
What I AM certain of is that this or any other non-CO2 contributing factors (say, ocean currents) will not affect the politics or business of AGW. There are too many Big Government and rent-seeking opportunities.
The other pro-AGW beleivers, especially those who will cling to the theory because of it morality themes – anti-capitalism, anti-growth, anti-fossil fuel, anti-humanism, anti-development, pro-government, pro-communitarian, pro-Gaia etc.- will never let the science interfere with the religion.
Let’s not also forget about ego and face-saving. Many of our intellectual betters did not give themselves any way to gracefully back away from their AGW convictions. They will defend their reputation by ignoring, downplaying or directly attacking the scientists regardless of any new information.
Buddy and I, over breakfast, were discussing this very stubborn clinging to the CAGW theme by bureaucratic/media elements despite empirical evidence to the contrary. CBC marches on to the cadence of Suzukster.
The COLD WAR IS OVER AND THEIR SIDE LOST but with this CAGW agenda their goal of socialist globalism would be rescued from the jaws of relatity.
Dangerous people these, ruthless and desperate, they will resort to anything from individual murder to holocaust to achieve their goals.
Much like common brigands, or muslims, they sincerely believe in THEIR, natural right to rule regardless the consequences to humanity…that only they deserve the right to rule…with the attendant perks of course.
cgh at August 26, 2011 1:33 PM
could we run this by algore’s BULL????
LC, lamentably, I agree with you on this aspect. Eco-fascism will never let go their propaganda on this irrespective of what comes out of the science. As to our supposed intellectual betters, I agree with you here too. Napoleon’s description of Talleyrand applies here, “You’re nothing but sh!t in a silk stocking.”
The good new is, the Global Warming Creeps no longer believe in global warming.
They now believe in Climate Change, which used to be called ‘Seasons’.
Pft. Those ignoramuses can’t even find the Higgs Boson. What do they know! Don’t be tricked by these Elitist Scienticians, Kate! Just pray if you want to know the truth!
The sun? The sun plays a large role in modulating the quantity of cosmic rays… whoda thunk it?
So what’s new?