There is an awful lot of differing scientific opinion in regard to the causes of Global Warming. Sometimes it is difficult for the average citizen to glean the truth from the miasma of scientific opinion. There is a plethora of theory and speculation. The following is a brief in regard to the latest debate on the cause of Global Warming in relation to the Sun.
It has become apparent that other planetary bodies in the Solar System have also been warming as well as Earth. This odd phenomena may only have been noticed because our own planet is warming, causing scientists to take a closer look at our neighbouring orbs and the activity of the Sun. It has been noted that Neptune, Titan, Pluto, Jupiter and Mars are also warming, the reason why there has been speculation about the Sun perhaps playing a contributing role in the warming up of our own planet.
The Sun does vary in irradiance and on occasion may go through cooler and warmer periods of activity.
For instance, there was what is called, a "Little Ice Age" over Europe and North America for a period of 350 years, called a Maunder Minimum. Beginning in 1645, for a period of 75 years, coinciding with the Little Ice Age, astronomers recorded almost no sunspot activity at all. Sun spots can increase the irradiation factor of the Sun's energy output, but this activity is still not enough to be a major cause of Earth's warming. Solar radiation output can indirectly induce chemical changes to greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere and cause modulations of H2o,CO2 and CH4 etc, but not enough to create a global warming event. Warming of the oceans melts the ice sheets and hence may increase cloud cover patterns, which increase the greenhouse effect.According to a recent German survey, the Sun has been hotter over the last 60 years and was cooler from 100-150 years ago.
For the last 20 years however, sunspot activity has remained constant and steady and cannot be contributing to the increase in the Earth's temperature. Over the 11 year cycle of the Sun, there is only a 1/10 of a degree change in its temperature. Not nearly enough to be the cause of Global Warming.There are explainable reasons why the other planets are warming.
Jupiter is currently experiencing an increase in storm activity, which churns up warmer gases from lower in its thick atmosphere, which are heated by internal forces, thereby increasing the surface temperature signature of the planet. Titan is also experiencing increased storm activity. Neptune is moving closer to the Sun in its orbital cycle. Pluto is experiencing increased eruptive activity, increasing its surface temperature. Mars is an uncertainty it seems, but also wobbles on its orbital path, as does Earth so the noticeable decreases in the Ice Caps may be due to normal seasonal changes. Some scientists are speculating however, that Mars may be coming out of an Ice Age.
Over all, the consensus seems to be that there is not enough evidence to support the theory that solar activity is having any effect on global warming. It plays a small role in Earth's warming, combined with the effects of industrialization, but not nearly enough to be a contributing factor to the current warming trend. The responsibility for that rests on our shoulders. We are pumping too much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere and we remain the leading cause of the planet's plight. Blame cannot be shifted on to any other unsuspecting candidate in the Solar System. It is a mess we have created for ourselves and we have to be the ones to clean it up.
