New Research Adds Twist to Global Warming Debate

    A new study provides experimental evidence that cosmic rays may be a major factor in causing the Earth’s climate to change.

    Given the stakes in the current debate over global warming, the research may very well turn out to be one of the most important climate experiments of our time – if only the media would report the story.

    Ten years ago, Danish researchers Henrik Svensmark and Eigil Friis-Christensen first hypothesized that cosmic rays from space influence the Earth’s climate by effecting cloud formation in the lower atmosphere. Their hypothesis was based on a strong correlation between levels of cosmic radiation and cloud cover – that is, the greater the cosmic radiation, the greater the cloud cover. Clouds cool the Earth’s climate by reflecting about 20 percent of incoming solar radiation back into space.

    The hypothesis was potentially significant because during the 20th century, the influx of cosmic rays was reduced by a doubling of the sun’s magnetic field which shields the Earth from cosmic rays. According to the hypothesis, then, less cosmic radiation would mean less cloud formation and, ultimately, warmer temperatures – precisely what was observed during the 20th century.

    If correct, the Svensmark hypothesis poses a serious challenge to the current global warming alarmism that attributes the 20th century’s warmer temperatures to manmade emissions of greenhouse gases.


In addition to this, you have the NY Times reporting that "variations in the course Earth travels around the Sun and in the tilt of its axis are associated with episodes of global cooling." Obviously, if there are cycles of cooling, there are subsequent cycles of warming, also caused by the tilt of the planet's axis.

Both of these studies show that the causes of global warming are very much still unknown. There are too many potential factors, other than human activity, that have not been ruled out.

Therefore, it would be incredibly foolish to assume that drastic changes in human activity, especially changes that would wreak economic havoc on our citizens, should be enacted.