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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Global Warming Caused by ... Cleaner Skies: Study

Pollution crackdown has let more sunlight in, making Europe toastier, scientists say

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(Newser) – Reducing aerosols and other pollutants has been a major part of Europe’s campaign to reduce global warming, but a new study turns conventional thinking on its head, New Scientist reports. "The decrease in aerosols probably accounts for at least half of the warming over Europe in the last 30 years," says a co-author of the study.

Scientists compared aerosol concentrations from six locations from 1986-2005, concluding that as aerosol concentrations declined by 60%, solar radiation rose significantly. Average temperatures in Europe have increased 1 degree Celsius (about 2 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1980—more warming than scientists predicted from greenhouse gases alone.

Beijing has pledged to clean up its skies before the Olympics open in August, but a European study has found declining aerosol levels over Europe have led to substantially rising temperatures.
Beijing has pledged to clean up its skies before the Olympics open in August, but a European study has found declining aerosol levels over Europe have led to substantially rising temperatures.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
The smog hovering over Manhattan may not look pristine, but it may be keeping the sun at bay according to a recent European study.
The smog hovering over Manhattan may not look pristine, but it may be keeping the sun at bay according to a recent European study.   (AP Photo/Adam Rountree, File)
A group of European scientists has found that cleaning up the skies over northern Europe has led to half the warming that has occurred there over the past three decades.
A group of European scientists has found that cleaning up the skies over northern Europe has led to half the warming that has occurred there over the past three decades.   (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
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kokuaguy
Jun 13, 09 2:42 PM CDT
New Scientist does not seem to have the credibility of a peer-review type scientific journal. Be that as it may, this article is saying that we have to live with air pollution if we want to prevent global warming. Reply
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