Since the discovery of ice caps on Mars, it seems as though we have been obsessed with the idea of finding life on Mars. Well, perhaps obsessed is a bit strong, but it has certainly been on the minds of a lot of people.
This fascination has led to more in-depth studies of Mars, to include the Red Planet's composition and the ability to support life now. Was it possible to eventually colonize Mars?
These questions have led to countless comparisons between Mars and Earth. Now there is a new comparison to take into consideration.
A new study now suggests that Mars is going through the same climate changes as Earth:
"Mars is being hit by rapid climate change and it is happening so fast that the red planet could lose its southern ice cap, writes Jonathan Leake.
Scientists from Nasa say that Mars has warmed by about 0.5C since the 1970s. This is similar to the warming experienced on Earth over approximately the same period.
Since there is no known life on Mars it suggests rapid changes in planetary climates could be natural phenomena."
Now my question is, if this is true, and Mars is going through a similar cycle of global warming, then how effective is humankind technology at combating Global Warming here on Earth?
It seems to me that this new study would lend a great deal of credibility to the argument that Global Warming is a natural cycle that is going to happen despite our best efforts.
I still maintain that our waste and pollution are speeding up the process for Global Warming; however, I am beginning to feel as though the most effective and enforced recycling programs and hybrid cars are, ultimately, going to fail us in our attempts to reverse or stop Global Warming...
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Thank you NASA for finding that global warming is not as much as a human problem as everyone says. I mean we as humans probably are making global warming move a little more rapidly,but we can't stop it...
I wonder if any of the other planets besides Earth and Mars are experiencing warmning trends as well.
Yes, it's very possible that Global Warming is a somewhat natural flucuation in climate. Of course, it doesn't help that not enough people care about taking care of the Earth, but that might not be the only cause.
It would be pretty funny if in the near future, the climate returns to normal and everyone realises they were a bit flawed in their "pointing fingers". It would be Y2K all over again!
Did you know that what happens on the surface of the Sun affects our climate? The Earth has gone through warming because of what I believe are called 'solar flares'.
Al Gore sucks.
right on! The sun is in a period of high activity(which happens to happen every 30 or 40 years)...and the fact that our magnetosphere is weakening isn't helping either...its funny though that it isn't completely our fault for global warming like everyone says.
Btw, where did you find this information? Cause it's something I want to read more about.
Josh
The article also goes on to say that the changes on Mars appear to be different than those here on Earth and ... "When a surface darkens it absorbs more heat, eventually radiating that heat back to warm the thin Martian atmosphere: lighter surfaces have the opposite effect. The temperature differences between the two are thought to be stirring up more winds, and dust, creating a cycle that is warming the planet"
Personally, I think we can significantly slow the changes we're experiencing. We aren't completely responsible, but reducing what we're adding to the fold could go a long way.
It'll take more than changing lightbulbs, or driving hybrids or recycling programs... and I think that is something we don't want to contemplate or entertain. If the idea of global warming meant nothing but little changes, I would imagine that many would be more willing to entertain the notion.. but since it means changes on a bigger scale many aren't going to even be willing to consider that the way we live might just have serious consequences; global warming amongst them.
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." -Huxley
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err." -Gandhi
Stop martian warming?
There's always been plenty of evidence that a) the problem of global warming (more appropriately termed 'global climate change') is far overblown, and b) it isn't much our fault if there is global warming. For me, this is icing on the cake...and I like cake.
--Mike
Cake is good... but pie is better!
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." -Huxley
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err." -Gandhi
My friends and I have decided that ska and apple pie is the American dream.
--Mike
"For me, this is icing on the cake...and I like cake."
Lol hilarious.
Go look up information about the Earth's magnetosphere declining in strength...I think you'll find that also plays a factor in global warming.
...is that our atmosphere (which is much larger and thicker than the Martian equivalent) actually helps to migigate the effect of things like solar radiation on the temperature of the Earth. Since we are actually keeping up with Mars (whose atmosphere offers much less protection), it is a sign that we are in fact having a noticeable effect on the climate.
percivale
actually every 200,000 years or so(it might be 20,000 i can't quite remember) the Earth's poles changes position and south becomes north, and north, south. We are long overdue for a pole change and NASA scietists predict one in the next 2-5,000 years, probably less than 5,000. Yet, when that happens the magnetosphere will vanish for a few centuries and the sun's ultraviolet light and the solar winds will have a much more harmful effect on the Earth, until the magnetosphere returns after the poles have realigned.
So since the Sun is at a period of heating(which happens every 40 years or so) the Earth and surrounding planets are heating, and our weaking magnetosphere isn't helping either. Not that humans don't have some effect on it...but this is just a natural cycle with humans adding a small percentage to the cycle.
Yeah, I know, sounds like a cheesy horror doomsday movie but it's true about the magnetosphere, NOAA has a great video on it.
So i'm pretty sure that even thought humans are effecting the warming cycle...its mostly naturally occuring with the weakening magnetosphere not protecting us as well as it has allows the Earth to warm up faster than it would if the magnetosphere was as strong as it was five hundred to athousand years or so ago.
Isn't life fascinating.
Josh