Washington Times

Flatulence of sorts

Mother Earth might be regulating her own temperature, venting global warming -- man-made or not -- into space.

The National Center for Public Policy Research in Washington is drawing attention to a new study, conducted by a team of scientists led by Richard Lindzen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pointing to a natural "vent" in the Earth´s atmosphere that releases heat into space.

"The authors say that, if true, the existence of a de facto atmospheric thermostat that helps keep the Earth´s temperature on an even keel would require global-warming theorists to significantly scale back their predictions of warming allegedly caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases," notes the policy center´s David Ridenour.

Appearing in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, the study examines how thin, high cirrus clouds help to regulate global temperature -- and serve as a counter to global warming.

In short, Mr. Ridenour summarizes, the cirrus clouds operate much as the "iris" of an eye regulates the admission of light. The clouds open in response to rising surface temperature, permitting cooling. The clouds close when the surface temperature cools to retain heat.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001