Global Dimming
The Disaster at Foot
What is Global Dimming?
Global dimming is the gradual reduction in the amount of direct heat and energy of the sun directed at the Earth's surface. This reduction of heat is caused by pollution. The pollution form many different by products, which result in clouds with an abnormal amount of water droplets. These droplets make the clouds more reflective, which reduces the greenhouse effect.
Discovery
Global dimming was discovered in the 1980s. Gerald Stanhill, an agricultural biologist, came to the conclusion that the sun shone 22 percent less in Israel than it did in the 1950s. After that, many pieces of evidence came in proving that the world has been getting darker. Evidence came from all over the world: the US is 10 percent darker than in the '50s, Western Europe 16 percent, and Russia 30 percent.
Impacts of Global Dimming
Health
- Pollution can lead to many health problems such as respiratory problems
Environment
- Pollution that causes global dimming also leads to other issues such as smog and acid rain
Famines
- The reflection of heat has made waters in the northern hemisphere cooler
- Less rain has formed in key areas and much needed rain has failed to fall in Northern Africa
- Due to massive droughts, famines became very common in the 1970s and 1980s
- If Global Dimming begins to affect the Asian monsoons, that bring rainfall to half the worlds population, 3 billion people may be affected.
- In the 1980s almost a million Africans in the Sahel died of a massive drought
Hiding Global Warming
- Global dimming hides the true nature of global warming
- Global dimming is faster and heftier than global warming which is more gradual
- Currently the estimated climate change in the next century is an increase if five degrees, which could be very fatal, global dimming has led to an underestimation of the power of global warming
- Global dimming may beat global warming which could lead to a decrease in temperatures
The Future Due to Global Dimming
Just few of the many outcomes of global dimming include:
- Eternal night outside
- People dying by the millions
- Survivors becoming pale, sickly, depressed, and hanging on to life
- The collapse of the world's economy
- Oxygen levels dropping
- Food becoming very scarce
Climate Change
Climate Change --- Global Dimming
Who Turned Off the Lights?
who turned off the lights?.mov
Short animated film based on global dimming. It presents the harsh reality of global dimming and global warming through a child who faces both developments at first hand.
Satellite view of Global Dimming
Dozens of fires burning on the surface (red dots) and a thick pall of smoke and haze (greyish pixels) filling the skies overhead in Eastern China. Smoke, pollution and other air particles are linked to global dimming. Photo taken by MODIS aboard NASA's Aqua Satellite.
Reduction of Sunlight
Scientists have discovered that the amount of sunlight reaching the earth is diminishing; and this holds the potential for powerful disruption to life on this planet.
Climate Change due to Global Dimming
A chart showing the effects of Global Dimming on temperature.
As previously stated, the drought led to famines which were primarily a cause of global dimming in the 1970s.
If pollution doesn't end soon, global dimming will take over. The temperature will become a lot cooler and the sunlight will dramatically decrease.