We have been hearing an awful lot about global warming lately. There are a lot of people who think that the warming is caused, at least partly by man. Others (I am one) think there is insufficient data to ascribe the warming to man's activities yet. That there is warming is verifiable; what is not yet clear is that the approximately 200 parts per million increase in CO2 (that's a rough estimate, figures vary from the data I have seen) is enough to cause any significant change.
Now there's some evidence that Jupiter may (stress the may part) be also experiencing global warming. Wouldn't that point to solar activity being the cause of the warming trend we are seeing?
Just asking.
UPDATE: VERY cool picture of Jupiter and (I think) the baby red spot.
Gaius,
If you would actually read carefully the article you link, you will see there is no reference to any planet-wide warming. The relevant quote:
“The latest images could provide evidence that Jupiter is in the midst of a global change that can modify temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit on different parts of the globe.”
Got that? Global change (not warming). Leading to warming on different parts.
And if you read the rest, you see that what is being discussed is the dynamics of heat distribution on the planet.
Now, if there were a planet-wide warming due to the sun affecting a planet so far away (10 degrees!!!), then there certainly should be many times greater warming here on earth. Maybe you aint too good at math, but just try to imagine a heat source, dissapating in all directions, with such force as to raise tempertures 10 degrees 500 million miles away. What would be the heat effect for Earth, only 93 million miles away?
And, of course, Mercury and Venus would probably be vaporized by now.
As to your GW denial – well even the panel that the Bush administration set up for the purpose of finding contrary evidence has thrown in the towel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/03/science/03climate.html?ex=1304308800&en=c4eeb36efd0a312e&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Wishful thinking just doesnt cut it.
Russian scientists have corrolated to .97 solar activity and global warming. They can’t get even near that with CO2, because the models always fail to explain the 1950-1970 cooling period.
Remember the human caused ozone depletion “epidemic” in the late 80s/early 90s? The fear of ozone holes giving us all cancer? Did you know we lost 60% of the ozone layer in 2004? Cause: Solar activity. Environmentalists response: Doh.
Jim
Tano,
We simply do not have enough information on what the sun is doing yet. There has been a rush to blame the whole thing on man. Man may be a component.
Mars has shrinking ice caps as well. The mechanism on Jupiter is likely quite a bit more complex, given the atmosphere.