Hansen now claims that the missing heat is due to aerosols from Mt. Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption. That theory is beyond ridiculous. Temperatures in the upper atmosphere warmed after the eruption due to suspended particulates absorbing SW radiation. By 1995, essentially all of the particulates had cleared out and temperatures dropped below pre-eruption values.
If Hansen’s theory were correct, temperatures in the upper atmosphere would be elevated above 1991 levels.
Cherry-picking I say! It’s the poles, they’re burning hot!
Mind you, some of the Latvians & Lithuanians ain’t bad either!
Hansen is right to invoke the importance of volcanic aerosols (albedo) but the aerosol effects of Mt Pinatubo in 1991 are long gone. (It only lasts around three weeks.) Vocanic ‘albedo’ increases precipitation – (see eruption of Mt Pucon in Mexico 2011) The resulting ash cloud grounded flights in Melbourne Australia and was responsible for the severe flooding in South East NSW (Kempsey) and Victoria. 2011 was a ‘Wet’/Normal Period anyway but precipitation was exacerbated by the volcanic activity. The eruptions of Mt Merapi in Indonesia alleviated the ‘Dry’ Cycle in Australia in 2010, but caused the Brisbane floods in 2011.
The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull (Iceland Nov, 2010) was responsible for the extreme Northern hemisphere winter of 2010 – 11 (Heath Row closed.)
A further insight into the effects of volcanic aerosol (albedo) on Climate may be obtained from the book ‘Tomorrow’s Weather’ Alex S Gaddes, 1990. An updated version of this work (with ‘Dry’ Cycle forecasts to 2055) may be obtained as a free pdf from [email protected]
Volcanic aerosols absorb *longwave* radiation, and scatter visible solar radiation.
Stop talking about your self Toshinmack, nobody here cares what your aresole can absorb.