LIARS : An example
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
United States
April 4, 2008 7:19am CST
"Study: Sun not linked to climate change"
The above is the headline on an article purporting to debunk the notion that the sun causes global warming.
Here is the link to the article.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2008/04/03/study_sun_not_linked_to_climate_change/1921/
In this article you will find plenty to lead you to believe that individuals who claim the sun is the biggest cause of global warming are wrong.
Now, here is a link to the actual study the article in the newspaper is about.
http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1748-9326/3/2/024001/erl8_2_024001.pdf?request-id=07b06eda-6c3a-4543-8f65-b68e68b6811e
The study is in pdf format. Parts of it are very difficult to understand, so it is okay to just skip to the conclusion if you like.
Skimming the study and jumping to the conclusion anyone can see this study is about a specific kind of radiation, (cosmic rays 'which don't only come from the sun!') and their effect on cloud cover which serves as an insulation blanket and reflector around the earth, thus affecting earth's temperature. Anything that changes the cloud cover is going to affect the earth's temperature. There is consensus on that.
So, what does the conclusion of this study say? It says that cosmic rays definitely are not affecting the cloud cover of the earth. I have no reason to doubt this conclusion. What else does the study say? It says that the change (dip) in cloud formation under study had to be caused by something other than cosmic rays but that it has to be corolated with solar activity.
Now, consider again the headline of the article about this study.
"Study: Sun not linked to climate change"
The author of the newspaper article about the science study is a liar. The study says the change in cloud cover affecting earth's temperature has to be corolated to solar activity. "Corolated" means either the sun is directly causing the change in cloud cover, that the sun is affecting something else that is affecting the cloud cover, or that there is some unknown factor with the ability to affect solar activity and clouds. In short this science study says with as much certainty as is possible with objective honest science that the sun is causing the change in cloud cover, just not by way of cosmic rays. The sun is linked to temperture change on earth by this study. The newspaper reporter is either a liar or incompetant.
2 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Certainly, it is a sensational headline, but except for those who already know that cosmic rays are not the mechanism by which the sun the delievers heat to the earth, (think infrared), it is not obvious he is fantastically wrong.
The link to the actual study was not at the newspaper article. The guy told a lie and left the reader without an easy means to figure out he was lying. Only the reader who additionally seeks out the science study discovers he lied.
I actually paid attention because this is the study someone used to tell me I did not know what I was talking about concerning the sun being responsible for global warming.
Some people are amazing.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I think that he is both, but we are used to this nonsense by now.
The cosmic ray theory was just that... a theory.
Solar activity, regardless of the exact component does drive our climate. All one has to do is remember that the warmest places on earth are the places that receive the most sunlight.
How hard is that to understand?
One thing for sure is that the main cause of climate conditions is NOT CO2 or man made contributions ans these propagandists would have us believe.
Water vapor also plays a major part, however this fact is deliberately being ignored and sometimes denied.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Sad to say, but I am not use to this nonsense by now. This particular study caught my eye when I ran across it as it is the exact study referenced by an individual here at myLot to dispute my claim the sun is mostly responsible for temperature change on earth.
Hopefully, that person will find the link and read the study for himself to learn how reporters distort the meaning of scientific studies when they write about them.
