A new satellite is being launched Feb. 23 at 2 AM local time (tonight!) with the intent of gathering information about the sun's radiation and its effects on our climate.
There has been a lull of solar activity for the last two years, and it has scientists wondering if the effects felt on earth are due to the sun cycles or environmental factors in our atmosphere. Dust particles and burning fossil fuels can absorb solar radiation and cause a drop in temperature. The satellite will measure incoming radiation from the sun and airborne particles absorbing the radiation. This will tell scientists whether the sun's low solar activity is even a factor on earth, and how much it will need to increase if the airborne particles are indeed absorbing too much radiation.
There has been a lull of solar activity for the last two years, and it has scientists wondering if the effects felt on earth are due to the sun cycles or environmental factors in our atmosphere. Dust particles and burning fossil fuels can absorb solar radiation and cause a drop in temperature. The satellite will measure incoming radiation from the sun and airborne particles absorbing the radiation. This will tell scientists whether the sun's low solar activity is even a factor on earth, and how much it will need to increase if the airborne particles are indeed absorbing too much radiation.
Very interesting article. It is very important to quantify accurately the contributions to the Earth's climate from various sources of energy and matter, especially given the high stakes and political implications of this subject. The only way to settle once and for all the question of what is causing the current epoch of global warming is to continue to make the most careful, quantitative measurements of the climate and the various possible contributing factors that technology will allow.
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