Global Dimming

Research Findings for Global Dimming

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Findings

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Global Dimming Resources

http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming/globaldimming.asp

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun/

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2007/aerosol_dimming.html

• There is also an interesting documentary titled "Horizons" that was produced by the BBC

Sunshine Levels Diminishing

Chang, Kenneth. "Globe Grows Darker as Sunshine Diminishes 10% to 37%." Common Dreams Newscenter. 13 May 2004. Common Dreams. 30 Mar 2008 <http://commondreams.org/headlines04/0513-01.htm>.

Chang's article was writtin in 2004 for the New York Times. It addresses the idea that the amount of sunshine reaching earth has diminished anywhere from 10% to 37% in the 20th century. The article's main point is to make the reader aware that many scientists have been studying the dimming phenomenon, and that they are compiling more and more evidence that supports the theory of global dimming. There is also explanation included of how these scientists perform their studies. The article completely supports the scientist's findings and is not an argument for or against global dimming

Geneva Granatstein

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History of Global Warming

Adam, David. "Goodbye Sunshine." The Guardian. 18 Dec 2003. 30 Mar 2008 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2003/dec/18/science.research1>.

Adam's article gives a detailed summary of who first discovered the idea of global warming, and the different scientists that have published related research since then. Atsumu Ohmura first published research on global warming in 1985, when he recorded that since the 1960's, the amount of sunshine penetrating Europe had declined by 10%. Since Ohmura's article was published, several other research papers were published during the 1990s on global dimming. All of these papers provided additional evidence to support Ohmura's theory. It was reported that sunshine in Ireland was decreasing, both the Arctic and the Antarctic were getting darker and that light in Japan was also decreasing. The most surprising evidence was that levels of solar radiation in the former Soviet Union had gone down almost 20% between 1960 and 1987. Since then, many more scientists have begun their own research around the world, and are continuing to find evidence that supports Ohmura's original claim.

Geneva Granatstein

Explanation of Dimming

Appell, David. "The Darkening Earth." Scientific American. August 2004,p16-18. <http://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/detail?vid=3&hid=116&sid=f8bc64c8-2fca-460f-8a3c-203ad833101b%40sessionmgr107>

Gives a good background behind global dimming. Makes the claim that the amount of solar reduction has been about 2.7% per decade since the 1950s. Aerosols and other particulates/greenhouse gases are the main culprits behind the dimming and lead to more cloud formation which deflects more solar energy each year. This could affect rainfall and farming productivity among other things. This is a news-based article, the author is reporting the facts put forth from the scientific community. Andrew Kersh

General Dimming Info

 Lovett, Richard A. "A Dim Outlook." Weatherwise. Sept/Oct 2004, p17. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=733701731&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientId=10553&RQT=309&VName=PQD> 

The most interesting issue this raises is the fact that because of dimming the earth may actually get warmer and drier instead of warmer and wetter. It was thought that global warming would make more rain fall because of increased humidity, but dimming causes slower evaporation of water and the air cannot become humid so easily. This article agrees with the previous one as far as diminishing overall sunlight in the world. It finally mentions a possible link between the dimming effect and reduced monsoon seasons in India. This article is much like the previous one because the author is writing based off of what scientists have to say on the issue.

Andrew Kersh