Waning Pacific Clouds Suggest Global Warming Feeds Upon Itself

[marmar]

Waning Pacific Clouds Suggest Global Warming Feeds Upon Itself
By Jeremy van Loon


July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Fewer clouds dot the Pacific skies than a half-century ago, allowing the sun beat to down on the sea and raise temperatures, according to scientists who say the discovery means our planet may heat up more than forecast.

A self-perpetuating cycle, triggered by global warming, has appeared in weather data gathered from 1952 to 2007 over a 3 million-square-kilometer (740,000 square-mile) expanse of ocean off Mexico, Amy Clement of the University of Miami and colleagues wrote in this week’s edition of Science.

Clouds, like forest fires and Arctic permafrost, are studied for their potential to amplify warming. There is still enough mystery in how they function that scientists have said it’s difficult to produce a consensus forecast for temperatures, which in turn may determine the severity of future storms, droughts and Arctic ice melting.

“There’s a wide range of predicted warming for the 21st century,” Clement, a professor of meteorology and oceanography, said in a podcast on the Science Web site. “This study indicates that perhaps we should be giving serious consideration to the high range of future warming.”

Trying to stem climate change, a 17-member group of the Earth’s most polluting nations including the U.S. and China agreed this month to limit the global average temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. They couldn´t agree on targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, leaving that for climate treaty talks that are set to conclude in December. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=a6EvbLkU1w6w

[dana_b]

1. hmmm..

“The big problem is trying to understand the roles of clouds in climate change,” Clement said. “CO2 alone would amount to just a modest warming of the earth. The big issue is whether feedback from the climate system amplifies or dampens the warming.”

so they really don't know yet but it doesn't look good AND they are anticipating a 4.5 degree rise in temps within the next century. damn.

[InvisibleTouch]

2. Sounds like that will reduce rainfall, also.

Forget oil, coal, gold. Water will be the most precious commodity, in the near future.

[northernlights]

6. water will be reduced in some areas

but will increase in others. Lack of clouds over the Pacific seems to fit with the historic drought going on in Australia.

From what I've read, areas that are already dry are likely to become drier, while ones that are wet will become wetter.

Here in Maine, the last 6 years have seen heavy, heavy rains. And not normal types either -- massive deluges that drop 3" in 24 hours. One after another. Last summer, in July we suddenly got 3 weeks straight of cold, cloudy rain. July normally is the beginning of our "drought" season. A neighbor for the first time in his life couldn't hay some of his fields.

This year, we had about 6 weeks straight of clouds and rain -- all of June into early July. No more than 1 or 2 hours of sun per week. Then we started getting a sunny day or two here and there. Now suddenly we seem to be sliding back into clouds and drizzle, clouds and drizzle.

[kestrel91316]

8. Imagine what could happen if these abnormal rainfall patterns were to combine with

a shutdown of the Gulf Stream due to the thermohaline thing being disrupted........

Sigh.....

We are living in "interesting" times.

[doc03]

3. I think it is unfortunate

they ever called climate change global warming. So far we have had about the coldest summer I can remember, how can you convince the average person there is global warming when it seems the opposite. I think if the leadership started out from the beginning calling it neither we would be better off. I think the American people could have been convinced much easier we had to get off foreign oil for the good of the country. I don't really buy the global warming theory myself especially that humans are causing it.

[jpak]

4. So Richard Lindzen was wrong - again

:evilgrin:

[lovuian]

5. there would be a certain irony if the governments

were making clouds to help reflect heat from the sun and in actuality they be INCREASING global warming

[northernlights]

7. this quote kills me...

"the U.S. and China agreed this month to limit the global average temperature increase...."

Oh really. We've agreed to limit the average temperature increase to 2 degrees? We really do think we're little gods, don't we?

If we *stopped* all greenhouse gas production today, I've read that the average temperature could continue to rise for something like 40 more years till CO2 and methane work their way out of the system. It's the methane, I seem to remember, that takes longer to break down.

And that's assuming we haven't already passed the tipping point of runaway warming.

[Wednesdays]

9. K&R

:kick: