Global Dimming & Global Warming: What's the Difference?

[Arian]

I was watching NOVA the other day and it had a show on GLobal Dimming.
The idea that human made dust like pollutants would make clouds into super mirrors which would make temperature go down. Yet this contradicts Global Warming which raises Earth's average temperature by .8every 50 years or something.
Now it proved that G.Dimming had a strong effect by showing that 15% decrease in G.Dimming would boost temperatures (6*). So if you removed all of this G.D you would get a really high Warming Rate.
What are your opinions?

Go to NOVA:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun/

 

[Mk]

Two nice discussions were done here on this subject:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=18883
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=37706

And here is a nice paper for you, if interested in reading a bit of scientific literature: http://www.mwnx.net/users/mac/Change%20in%20Earth's%20Reflectance%20over%20the%20Past%20Two%20Decades.rtfd
The one that is an rtf is the text, and the rest are figures.

 

[ravenprp]

There are a few key differences between global dimming and global warming that are important to understand. Global dimming refers to the decrease in the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface due to the presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere, such as aerosols and soot. This decrease in sunlight can have a cooling effect on the Earth's surface, as it reduces the amount of solar radiation that is able to warm the planet.

On the other hand, global warming refers to the overall increase in the Earth's average temperature, primarily caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat and cause the planet to warm.

While global dimming and global warming may seem contradictory, they are actually interconnected. The presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere can contribute to both dimming and warming effects. For example, aerosols can have a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight back into space, but they can also contribute to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere.

It is important to note that while global dimming may have a temporary cooling effect, it does not address the root cause of global warming - the buildup of greenhouse gases. In fact, as the content from NOVA mentions, a significant decrease in global dimming could actually lead to a rapid increase in global warming.

In my opinion, it is crucial that we continue to address both global dimming and global warming in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This includes reducing the emissions of pollutants that contribute to global dimming, as well as reducing our overall greenhouse gas emissions. It is also important to continue researching and understanding the complex interactions between these two phenomena in order to develop effective solutions for tackling climate change.