If we move completely away from fossil fuels and use clean alternatives, would this result in global cooling?

Question

I mainly mean the use of solar power. If we convert the light and heat energy from the sun to electrical energy then wouldn't that mean less light and heat is going to get trapped in the atmosphere?

I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing.

Answer 1

Using less fossil fuels will not cause global cooling -  it may slow down global warming, but global warming will still happen...

Answer 2

The answer to this question might be supprising. Why? Because, the result of eliminating fossil fuels, at least in the beginning, may actually lead to an increase in mean global temp's during the day time and a decrease in mean global temp's during the night. The truth is we don't really know. It is kind of scary. Different models suggest different results. We humans have been, helter skelter, messing with mother nature so long, balances that kept global temperatures in a fairly narrow temperature mean, have been thrown off.

In the last few years several unrelated groups, collecting data on evaporation rates, in different parts of the world, brought their information together, analizing this data gave interesting results, which was: that the average evaporation rate has decreased world wide. To make a long story short, this phenomenon is atributed to what is now known as "global dimming". There is now more particulate matter in the air, from polutants and vapor trails ect. that form "clouds" that shade the earth, this lowers day time temp's, and raises night time temp's.. Right now if I look out side I can count five big jet vapor trails in the sky... just look up yourself you'll see the clouds from vapor trails your self. Basically, the truth is... we may be damned if we eliminate fossil fuel use and damned if we don't. Still, all and all... I personally advocate a slow reduction of carbon emmissions. I think that great nature has the capacity to respond and will balance herself over time. The uncertainty of it, though, is really disconcerting. We are in for a rough ride.

Answer 3

The planet has been both much hotter and much colder than at present, and at these times there were no humans, no industry and no fossil fuel use.

Answer 4

No.

For one thing, CO2 stays in the atmosphere for a very long time (somewhere around 100 years).  Even if we stopped burning fossil fuels altogether right now, the planet would continue to warm for a while before levelling off.  For this reason, scientists say there is already another 1°C global warming "in the pipeline" due to the carbon we've already emitted, because it's going to stay in the atmosphere for so long.

On top of that, we would be converting so little of the solar energy to electricity that it would make virtually no difference in the global temperature.  Just think of how big the surface area of the Earth is, and how little of that would we could possibly cover with solar panels.  It wouldn't make any difference.

No, the best we can do is slow global warming and eventually stop it.  We're not going to cause global cooling by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and using solar energy.

Answer 5

yes, i guess. but let's get down to the opposite issue, the more pressing one.

Answer 6

Well no, but it will contribute to less green house gases, which will help, also solar energy is effective but its not the only solution, wind power is excellent as well.

Answer 7

Global cooling is already happening according to the latest scientific data from NASA.  Temperatures have been decreasing since 1998.  It's cyclic, so don't worry.  We'll be back to warming again in a decade or two.  Basically, no one really knows.  All the hype is speculation at best.

But to answer your question, if we shut down every factory and stopped every car and everyone agreed not to breathe out, it wouldn't change anything... except kill us all.

Even the UN admitted that if everyone followed the Kyoto accord it wouldn't change anything.

Solar power is great, but it's not very practical.  Once it's more feasible the free market will embrace it.

Answer 8

possible I guess.   Global warming being caused by man made co2 emmisions is not accepted by all.   Some feel that the suns activity is more likely the cause for global warming.

I would say though that if global warming is caused by  fossil fuels etc then if we were to cease using them entirely (which is unlikely ) the planet would not cool to a point that was particuarly detrimental.   But i guess you call it global cooling in comparison to the current situation.

Answer 9

I believe the correct answer is "We don't know".  What we do know is that if we continue burning fossil fuel we're screwed, more likely sooner than later.  Nothing in either statement suggests a solution exists, or what it might be if it does.

Answer 10

depending on who you talk to will give you a different answer. There is no doubt that the increase in CO2 isn't helpin the climate, but many scientists believe it isn't the only reason, in fact the heat of the planet started rising before the accumilation of CO2. The planet's temperature has always fluctuated, look at the ice ages, so this is no exception. So although the decrease in fossil fuel use will help, i'm affraid many believe the inevitable will happen but just at a slower rate