It's the Sun, Stupid

Mother earth is warming;
On that we all agree;'
But Mars is also warming;
And they have no SUVs:

Simultaneous warming on Earth and Mars suggests that our planet's recent climate changes have a natural—and not a human- induced—cause, according to one scientist's controversial theory.

Earth is currently experiencing rapid warming, which the vast majority of climate scientists says is due to humans pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Mars, too, appears to be enjoying more mild and balmy temperatures.

In 2005 data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions revealed that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" near Mars's south pole had been diminishing for three summers in a row.

Habibullo Abdussamatov, head of the St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia, says the Mars data is evidence that the current global warming on Earth is being caused by changes in the sun.

"The long-term increase in solar irradiance is heating both Earth and Mars," he said.

If wonder if any Martians are buying carbon offset credits like Al Gore does? The solar radiation theory has long been the most logical option to explain planetary temperature shifts, and yet those who insist on blaming capitalism and economic or industrial expansion for all of Mother Earth's problems won't be able to extort billions of dollars from America andother civlized countries if they admit that humans have little to do with it.

For anyone who doubts the effect of solar energy, all you have to do is look at 1816. In 1815 the volcano Tambora exploded and poured ash and other particulates into the upper atmosphere. The result was the "year without a summer" in 1816 when freezing temperatures were common even during the summer months. Going back a little further you have the Maunder Minimum, a period of years in which there was little sunspot activity. The Maunder Minimum just happens to coincide with the Little Ice Age, a period in which much of the earth experienced bitterly cold winters.

Going back even further you have the Medieval Warm Period, a time when there was increased solar activity and warmer than usual temperatures in the northern hemisphere. It was during this period that Vikings discovered and named Greenland. They weren't being sarcastic when they chose that name - it was a lush green country. It's now largely covered in ice. Near as I can tell, the Vikings did not travel in SUVs, nor did their Lear Jets contribute to carbon levels.

The Earth is not fragile - it's a wonderfully self-balancing system, able to deal with the vagueries of the solar energy that drives it. If there is destruction on Earth due to warming, it won't be the fault of the humans that populate the place. It's the sun, stupid.

UPDATE: A Minnesota public radio forum on global warming was to be held last night. The forum promised a discussion as follows:

Concern about global warming is increasing in American households as warnings of a potential climate change catastrophe are proliferating in the media. Consumers are becoming more interested in sustainable products ranging from the laundry detergent they use to the cars they drive. In the end, can a change in consumers' behavior alter the course of global warming?

The event was canceled due to a blizzard.