The Chilling Stars: A New Theory of Climate ChangeScientists agree that over the last century the earth has become warmer. But do we really know why this has happened? A deftly written and enjoyable read, "The Chilling Stars" outlines a brilliant, daring and undoubtedly controversial new theory that will provoke fresh thinking about global warming. As prize-winning science writer, Nigel Calder and climate physicist Henrik Svensmark explain, an interplay of the clouds, the Sun and cosmic rays - sub-atomic particles from exploded stars - seems to have more effect on the climate than manmade carbon dioxide. This conclusion stems from Svensmark's research at the Danish National Space Center which has recently shown that cosmic rays play an unsuspected role in making our everyday clouds. And during the last 100 years cosmic rays became scarcer because unusually vigorous action by the Sun batted many of them away. Fewer cosmic rays meant fewer clouds and a warmer world. The theory, simply put here but explained in fascinating detail in the book, emerges at a time of intense public and political concern about climate change. Motivated only by their concern that science must be trustworthy, Svensmark and Calder invite their readers to put aside their preconceptions about manmade global warming and look afresh at the role of Nature in this hottest of world issues. |
Contents
A lazy Sun launches iceberg armadas | 11 |
Adventures of the cosmic rays | 35 |
A shiny Earth is cool | 63 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
The Chilling Stars: A Cosmic View of Climate Change Henrik Svensmark,Nigel Calder No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
20th century altitudes Antarctic climate anomaly Antarctica astronomers atmosphere atoms beryllium-10 Calder CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO carbon dioxide Celsius cent CERN climate change cloud condensation nuclei cloud cover clusters cold cooling Copenhagen cosmic rays degrees Celsius DIEGO THE LIBRARIES dinosaurs droplets Earth's climate effect electrons energetic episodes experiment exploded stars Friis-Christensen galactic Galaxy gamma rays geologists glaciers global warming Gould's Belt greenhouse Greenland heavy oxygen Heinrich Events heliosphere Henrik Svensmark ice sheets ice-rafting icehouse increase influx of cosmic intensity of cosmic interstellar kilometres Kirkby LIBRARIES SAN DIEGO light-years Little Ice Age low clouds Maunder Minimum Milky million years ago molecules muons numbers ocean orbit past physicists planet production radioactive rays and clouds satellite Schnidejoch scientists Shaviv Snowball Earth Solar System solar wind spiral arms starburst sulphuric acid Sun's magnetic sunspot surface temperature tion ultra-fine specks UNIVERSITY variations water vapour