http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/09/daily-roundup-ice-melt-wins-backs-get-a-break-discovery-returns/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/09/daily-roundup-ice-melt-wins-backs-get-a-break-discovery-returns/#comment-25663 Stephanie 94 Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:41:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=27204#comment-25663 Is it true that global warming will threaten humans in the next 20-30 years? Is it true that global warming will threaten humans in the next 20-30 years?

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/09/daily-roundup-ice-melt-wins-backs-get-a-break-discovery-returns/#comment-25662 JaberwokWSA Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:39:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=27204#comment-25662 Soot is a factor when it falls on snow and ice. The dark color absorbs heat more easily than light reflecting colors, melting the ice and snow. (Try throwing coffee grounds on the snow on a sunny day and see what melts.) I'm not sure how big the effect is for climate change (I hate the term global warming), but just ignoring it will not give you the most accurate analysis. Soot is a factor when it falls on snow and ice. The dark color absorbs heat more easily than light reflecting colors, melting the ice and snow. (Try throwing coffee grounds on the snow on a sunny day and see what melts.) I’m not sure how big the effect is for climate change (I hate the term global warming), but just ignoring it will not give you the most accurate analysis.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/09/daily-roundup-ice-melt-wins-backs-get-a-break-discovery-returns/#comment-25661 John Lerch Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:05:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=27204#comment-25661 This is the first time I've heard of soot as a cause of global warming rather than a cause of global cooling. OTOH I confess that soot down here where we have to breath it probably causes warming by absorbing sunshine that might otherwise be reflected (in particular on ice sheets). But industry puts the soot up in the air where it causes cloud formation. So malfunctioning automobiles and barbequers are guilty, industry is not. This is the first time I’ve heard of soot as a cause of global warming rather than a cause of global cooling. OTOH I confess that soot down here where we have to breath it probably causes warming by absorbing sunshine that might otherwise be reflected (in particular on ice sheets). But industry puts the soot up in the air where it causes cloud formation. So malfunctioning automobiles and barbequers are guilty, industry is not.

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