Global Warming Solved!!!!!!

[DrDan]

Just heard it on Paul Harvey.

The evils of global warming are as a result of the color of our roofs. This according to NASA.

You know if it was on Paul Harvey, it's gotta be true.

And since junior handpicked the new head of NASA (if I remember correctly), then that confirms it.

ok - he may not have any space experience, but his business acumen bought him the job.

But, I believe I heard Paul say that the problem was with the dark roofs reflecting the heat back into the atmosphere. If I remember correctly, light roofs reflect and dark roof absorb.

oh well - details. At least we know fossil fuels are not the culprits.

[Champion Jack]

1. Figures Harvey wouldn't blame fossil fuels,

since he's a fossil himself



.

[Waistdeep]

2. He's right - sort of

It's true that a dark roof reflects less visible light than a light roof. It heats up more and emits more infrared radiation which is absorbed by the various greenhouse gases. The overall reflectivity of the earth is called the albedo and is definitely lowered by dark roofs ( as opposed to a roof made out of mirrors, for example).

HOWEVER, I expect that the overall effect is pretty damn small. Where's my envelope, I need to do a calculation........

The Bushco solution will be to make sure there are fewer roofs.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. ...fewer roofs over our heads......

[Sirius_on]

3. I have always claimed it was urban heat islands

Cement and other man made materials cause increased temps in pretty large areas. The only way to prevent this is by planting lots of trees and spacing out buildings.

I really dont see why there cant be more trees. I say plant them everywhere we can.

[Waistdeep]

4. But he said GLOBAL warming

There is no question that local albedo changes are responsible for a lot of urban warming. But spacing out buildings doesn't change the global effects.

Added on edit: I'd be willing to bet that the NASA guy was talking about local reduction of heat and consequent reduction of photochemical smog production, not global warming. I just googled
this 1997 LBL report which says something similar.

[Sirius_on]

5. As a weather fanatic...I say there isnt GW

The Earths temperatures go in patterns. The jet stream along with pressure changes are what effect temps. Thats why you cannot have a record high temp in New York and Seattle in the same day.