Sun Could Cause 15% To 20% Of Effects Of Climate Change, Researcher Says

[AEGeneral]

Sun Could Cause 15% To 20% Of Effects Of Climate Change, Researcher Says

ScienceDaily (July 17, 2008) — Global warming is mainly caused by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities; however, current climatic variations may be affected “around 15% or 20%” by solar activity, according to Manuel Vázquez, a researcher from the Canary Islands’ Astrophysics Institute (IAC) who spoke at the Sun and Climate Change conference, organised as part of the El Escorial summer courses by Madrid's Complutense University.

In the past, the sun was the main external agent affecting climate change on Earth, together with the effects of volcanic explosions and internal factors such as ocean currents. “If man had never started burning fossil fuels, the sun might have been the only agent regulating the climate until the next glaciation. However, back in the 19th century we started an experiment which we are now beginning to suffer the consequences of”, explained the astrophysicist Manuel Vázquez to SINC. (more)

Now hold up a sec, here....

All of these groundhogs have been dismissing the sun -- our primary source of heat on this planet -- as the cause of global warming for years now. They've gone on record as saying it has little if anything to do with it.

Now we've got somewhat of a reversal here -- albeit a 15-20% figure, but it's something -- accompanied with the expected overbearing disclaimer of course, that we're all causing the planet to warm (despite the fact that it's currently cooling).

First off, I've got an issue with this statement: "If man had never started burning fossil fuels, the sun might have been the only agent regulating the climate until the next glaciation. However, back in the 19th century we started an experiment which we are now beginning to suffer the consequences of."

Yeah, like that "experiment" had no benefits to humanity whatsoever, huh? If you'd like to live like humanity did before the industrial age, you and all your groundhog friends need to lead by example. Let's see how long you can take it.

Now that aside, if "the sun might have been the only agent regulating the climate until the next glaciation," how does that explain the fact that it was hotter during the Medieval Warm Period than it is now?

If what he is saying is true, then we haven't even reached the point to have a concern raised about this, have we? After all, humanity survived the Medieval Warm Period just fine without the modern-day luxuries we have today.

Follow the blue line (which drops even further in 2008): What exactly are we suffering the consequences of?