Sun, climate, hunger, and mass migration |
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Authors: | Kenneth J Hsu |
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Institution: | (1) Tarim Associates AG, Frohburgstrasse 96, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | Paleoclimatic studies indicate four epochs of global cooling during the last 4 000 years, i. e. during the few centuries before
and after 2000 BC, 800 BC, 400 AD, and 1 600 AD; the quasiperiodicity corresponds to cyclic variation of solar activity. Global
temperature changes influenced regional precipitation patterns: Northern Europe was wetter while the middle- and low-latitude
lands were more arid during colder epochs. Both sets of cold climatical conditions were unfavorable for agricultural production.
Historical records show that large demographic movements in history took place because of crop failures and mass starvation,
rather than escaping from war zones. The “wandering” of the Germanic tribes during the first two or three centuries of the
Christian Era is one example. Whereas the accelerated release of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels is ultimately
to cause global warming, historical evidence indicates, however, that global warming has been on the whole a blessing to mankind.
Global cooling, on the other hand, has curtailed agricultural production and has led to famines and mass migrations of people.
Perhaps the most important task at the present is not so much computer-modelling of greenhouse effect on global climate, but
water-management and agricultural researches to insure food-supply for an everincreasing world population. |
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Keywords: | sun climate hunger mass migration |
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