GLobal Warming...interesting!

[belgareth]

Fossil Fuel Curbs May Speed Global Warming: Scientists



Wed Jan 12, 7:31 PM ET Science - Reuters





By Matt Falloon





LONDON (Reuters) -

Cutting down on fossil fuel pollution could accelerate global warming and help turn parts of Europe into desert by

2100, according to research to be aired on British television on Thursday. "Global Dimming," a BBC Horizon

documentary, will describe research suggesting fossil fuel by-products like sulfur dioxide particles reflect the

sun's rays, "dimming" temperatures and almost canceling out the greenhouse effect.



The researchers say cutting down on the burning of coal and oil, one

of the main goals of international environmental agreements, will drastically heat rather than cool climate.



"When the cooling affect goes away -- and it must do because

particles like sulfur dioxide are damaging to humans -- global warming will be much stronger," climate change

scientist Dr Peter Cox told Reuters on Wednesday.

Temperatures could

increase in the worst case by up to 10 degrees by the end of the century, the researchers said -- much more than

current estimates.

Scientists differ as to whether global warming is

caused by man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gases, by natural climate cycles or if it

exists at all.

Take away fossil fuel by-products like sulfur dioxide

without tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and the extra heat will speed warming, irreversibly melting ice sheets

and rendering rain forests unsustainable within decades, Dr Cox said.

"The climate will warm more in the future but the ability of the land to store carbon dioxide will be

compromised," he said, adding that warmer soil was less able to hold the greenhouse gas

[DrSmellThis]

Nice post, that suggests a

holistic approach to planetary problem solving is always best and necessary.