This BBC produced show, which aired as an episode of PBS’s series NOVA, is in no way fringe science. Yet somehow this huge subject is still not part of our environmental debate.

Global Dimming argues that the planet has been experiencing both global warming and global dimming. Particulate matter from air pollution rises into the atmosphere where it attracts water. The water crystallizes on the particulates and reflects sunlight back into space.

The amount of sunlight reaching the earth has dropped approximately 22% between 1950 and today. This dimming has likely kept global temperatures much cooler.

Many countries have made significant reductions in particulate pollution, which means that the amount of sunlight reaching the earth is likely to increase.

If we do not also immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we could see a steep rise in global temperatures - as much as 10 degrees. Even a rise half that high and we can kiss the polar ice caps good bye.

I have to admit that the kid in me feels vindicated. Through out my school years, many of us kids worried about the soot and smoke pouring out chimneys - only to be told that just the invisible greenhouse gases mattered.

Now it seems that both do. Great.

My sixth-grade earth-science-self is happy. The rest of me is looking for property on a hilltop.

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