Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctic Fox
The loss of ice cover at the Poles is speeding climate change as the white surface reflects a lot of the Sun's energy straight back into space. Anything that reflects this energy will help slow climate change, and the nearer that surface is to the Tropics the more beneficial the effect will be (as there is a lot more of the Sun's energy per square foot at the Tropics than at the Poles).
Solar panels have also been shown to be beneficial on farmland in hot areas as livestock can use the shade to stay cooler and grass tends to grow better because there is more moisture due to lower evaporation.
It would be nice if large areas of black tarmac (roads and car parks) could be made lighter to increase reflection, but doing this would be difficult in high-traffic areas
Replacing dark roofs with a lighter-colored material would also be beneficial. Flying into CLT and MIA last week I was disappointed by the huge areas of warehouse rooftop with not a single solar panel - no doubt with air-conditioners working overtime to keep the buildings cool
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Has the last ice age ended?
Glacials are somewhat better defined, as colder phases during which glaciers advance, separated by relatively warm interglacials. The end of the last glacial period, which was about 10,000 years ago, is often called the end of the ice age, although extensive year-round ice persists in Antarctica and Greenland.
I guess that is about the same time humans started using fossil fuels.