Diaxiom Technologies

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Thunderstorms      Hurricanes     Tornadoes     Global Cooling Cycle

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Global warming is a real and present danger to our environment and society. While we differ from science on the route cause of the problem we agree, warming is occurring and anthropogenic emissions along with the heating of the atmosphere is causing major problems in our environment, which must be addressed globally.

Present day science explains that the planet loses heat, or energy, through a process in which  long wave radiation is released by the environment into space. It further states that short wave radiation i.e. sun light, is absorbed by the planet surface and atmosphere, and this short wave radiation is converted into heat energy and reflected back out into space as long wave radiation or infrared radiation.   As this reflection and absorption process takes place in the atmosphere, it creates the greenhouse effect.  The more that we increase greenhouse gases like water and CO2 in the atmosphere, the more absorption occurs and the temperature in the greenhouse increases.  This system is often referred to as the global energy balance.

Long wave radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere in only two primary ways - by water and by carbon dioxide, and it is this process that is driving global warming.  As levels of CO2 and H2O increase, they absorb more heat energy and thus, atmospheric temperature increases.  As we increase activities that produce heat  such as heating our homes and driving our cars, this heat also contributes to global warming.

 

CONVENTIONAL THEORY

 

      

 

Science also states that if a volcano erupts and puts sulfur oxides (and eventually sulfate) into the stratosphere, this will block incoming short wave solar radiation (albedo) and the planet will cool as a direct result.  The question this poses is, Wouldn't the high concentration of sulfates in the atmosphere also reflect long wave infrared radiation as well, and thereby present a warming effect?  Science seems to have it both ways on this issue. We would suggest there is a far more complex mechanism that cause cooling in our atmosphere and the albedo is only a minor player in the overall situation. 

 

NEW THEORY 

 

      

 

In the above, modified diagram, we submit a new theory in which incoming solar energy is absorbed by the earth and atmosphere, and very little long-wave radiation actually escapes back into space from the troposphere (the lowest level of our atmosphere).  The majority of reflected and human generated IR is absorbed by the gases in the atmosphere such as water and carbon dioxide.  The only method for the troposphere to lose energy (or heat), therefore, is through the sulfur/ thunderstorm cycle (explained under The Sulfur Cycle> Thunderstorms) and through proton movement into the ionosphere (upper most level of the atmosphere) and out into space.

The layers of our atmosphere act as an insulation blanket ,or protective layer, to stop the release of IR radiation at the same time they block incoming harmful radiation such as UVC and UVB, from the sun and solar system.  Once the sun, or human activity, heats the planet, this heat remains within our environment until lost through the dissociation of energized water in the lower atmosphere.

 

Effects of CO2 and Water on Global Warming

 

Science has substantiated, through several working models of the atmosphere, that increases of CO2 and water are the main culprits in global warming.  CO2 represents 9% of the gas in the atmosphere compared to water at 36%, and these two gases are responsible for 90% or more of IR absorption (and subsequent heating) in the atmosphere.  Therefore, CO2, which takes most of the blame for global warming, is only about 20% of the problem, whereas water is actually responsible for about 80% of the problem.

                                                   
                                                   

Within our new theoretical model, therefore, reduction of water in the atmosphere will have a more dramatic effect on reducing IR absorption and heat that causes global warming.  The reduction of atmospheric water is brought about when sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels are increased,  causing dissociation of the water that, in turn, releases H+ (or protons) into space in the form of energy (heat).  Therefore, the effect of less water, more SO2, or a combination of the two will result in global cooling.  Our environment does this on a daily  basis as evidenced by clouds, thunderstorms and hurricanes (discussed in earlier sections). 

 

Volcanoes and Global Cooling 

 

If we have an eruption from a volcano that puts hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sulfur into the atmosphere, this event can trigger even more severe weather systems and contribute more so, to global cooling.   The following table exhibits major volcanic events over time, and suggests possible connection to global cooling.  Several of the more severe volcanic eruptions are linked here.

                                    Mount Pinatubo  

                                    Mount Tambora   -     Year without a summer 

                                    Krakatoa  

                  

                                              (1)  VEI = Volcanic Expolsivity Index (Scale 0-8)

                          Extracted from Wikipedia.org

Note, some of the above eruptions produce a northern hemisphere cooling anomaly and some do not, yet there were significant releases of volcanic gases and debris in all cases.  Why would the heavy particulate releases not have caused cooling in all instances?  Our sulfur-cooling model described earlier, explains the apparent discrepancy as being the result of variations in the levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) released into the atmosphere by each event.   Because SO2 and H2S are instrumental in atmospheric dissociation of water (H2O), resulting in the eventual release of H+ (heat energy) from our environment, then it would hold that the more SO2 and H2S present, the more H+ (or heat energy) lost, and the greater the cooling effect.

For the volcanoes listed above that have a related cooling anomaly,  thousands of tonnes of SO2 and H2S were emitted into the atmosphere.   It is possible that those volcanoes not exhibiting corresponding cooling, may have had much lower emissions of these elements.  Further studies are needed to draw conclusive arguments, however, the case for a sulfur-related relationship continues to strengthen and provide an alternative (or complementary) perspective to the commonly accepted theory that the presence of volcanic particulate/ dust simply reflects solar radiation, preventing warming.  Check out additional information for related cooling.

 

Sulfur and Acid Rain 

 

In the early seventies, acid rain was a big problem in most industrial nations, killing off plants and aquatic life at an alarming rate.  Lakes in much of the Northeastern U.S. and Canada became so acidic that lakes were void of plant and animal life.  To solve this problem, SO2 emissions were curtailed in many industries such as steel and manufacturing.  Cars were equipped with catalytic converters to decrease carbon monoxide levels and sulfur was removed from gasoline.  This helped to decrease sulfur levels world wide by up to 69%.   This was a good news story for lakes and forests that started to return to normal pH levels, but as we have theorized above, the reduced influence of sulfur in the atmosphere would lead to reduced dissociation of water, more absorption of heat, and higher global temperatures i.e. global warming.

 

Global Cooling vs Global Warming 

 

Ironically, before the above warming effect was realized, there was actually a fear of global cooling in the mid-seventies.  In 1974 Time Magazine reported on the coming "Ice Age" and scientists made predictions of an ice age starting in the next several centuries to millennium.  These thoughts came about because of two factors - observed declining temperatures in the early-to-mid seventies; and the emergence of climatology as a science that was focused heavily on glaciation science.  Over the next  decade temperatures started to rebound and science refocused on new discoveries from ice core records and sea floor core records that all showed a link to CO2 and methane levels as being the cause of warming or a leading indicator of climate change. This theory is the basis of the U.N. IPCC report on climate change and the scientific communities fundamental belief that the climate is changing and human activity and CO2 emissions are responsible.  

Our theory suggests that both cooling in the seventies and warming today are the result of human activity.  In the sixties and early seventies, with the dramatic increase in automobile use and the expanded development of coal fired electric generation, our atmosphere was filled with SO2 emissions.  This was evidenced by acid rain levels at the time.  This process allowed the number and strength of thunderstorms to increase as is shown in the meteorological records of the time for the northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada, and this caused increased cooling.  As we decreased sulfur levels over the next two decades, temperature began to rebound until now, today, we are in the opposite situation with increasing temperatures - global warming.  Essentially, lower sulfur levels in the atmosphere contribute to higher atmospheric temperatures.

 

Petroleum Refining - Storms - Global Cooling 

 

Over this same period the petroleum industry has been increasing the frequency of flaring (off-gassing) of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide to dispose of these waste by-products from the refining process. This has led to "bursts" of more SO3 in the environment over the past half century, especially in the area north and east of Texas and Louisiana.  The chart below shows how oil production increases appear to match violent storm and increased tornado activity.  Notice also the dip in both from 1980 to 1988, a correlation that further suggests a possible relationship.

For addition information about the theoretical relationships between petroleum refineries and atmospheric sulfur levels, refer to SCIENCE> THE SULFUR CYCLE> TORNADOES.

  

          

 

  

 

As earlier proposed, increased storm activity results in the loss of H+ (heat energy) from the upper atmosphere and contributes to global cooling.  While this correlation does not prove cause and effect, it does warrant further study.  DiAxiom is involved in ongoing research to investigate this relationship.

     

CO2 and Global Warming 

 

It is understandable that science has reached the conclusions it has concerning our environment, based on existing statistical analyses.  For example, relative to CO2, described by science as a major contributor to global warming, one need only cross-reference data comparing the trends upward for both CO2 and atmospheric temperature, to get correlation.  Similarly, if you compare the following CO2 chart  to the oil production chart, above, the data also draws a significant correlation between CO2 and oil production as well.  However, we propose that the primary increase in CO2 levels is a result, not of oil production, but rather, of increased water temperatures globally, which is the natural result of increasing atmospheric temperatures (see beginning of this page for explanation of global warming and cooling effects).  In other words the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere can be attributed to global warming, and once in the atmosphere, the CO2 continues to contribute to the effects of global warming. 

As the ocean temperature increases, the transition of CO2 out of  the water increases, causing the water temperature to decrease.  CO2 functions like a coolant to decrease water temperature while it increases atmospheric temperature proportionately.   Anthropogenic CO2 only adds to this cycle, speeding the loss of heat energy from the oceans to the atmosphere.  This process is why ice and ocean floor core samples show increased CO2 during warm periods throughout the historical record.

 

               

 

GLOBAL COOLING - THEORETICAL CONCLUSIONS

 

*  CO2, which takes most of the blame for global warming, is only about 20% of the problem, whereas water is actually responsible for about 80% of the problem.

*  When SO2 levels are increased in the atmosphere,  it increases the dissociation of water that, in turn, releases H+ (or protons) into space and releases energy (heat) from the atmosphere.  The result is "global cooling".  The opposite occurs when sulfate levels decrease i.e. global warming.

*  Volcanic activity emits SO2 and H2S into the atmosphere, contributing to atmospheric cooling.  In sufficient volume, the resulting sulfate emissions can trigger or intensify severe weather systems such as thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes.

*  Man-made contributors of high levels of SO2 in the atmosphere can trigger or contribute to severe weather systems .

*  CO2 increases in the atmosphere are a consequence, in large part, of global warming and the resulting release of CO2 from oceans.  CO2 does contribute to global warming as well, albeit, to a lesser extent than the higher concentration of atmospheric water (H2O).