<h2>It is interesting to note that CO2 is still believed to be the No 1 greenhouse gas instead of water vapour. Many excellent climate scientist (e.g. Richard Lindzen, Roy Spencer, John Christy, etc) have dealt with the issue and shown both in books and research articles that CO2 is a very minor player governing global climate.</h2><h2>So what drives climate?</h2><h2>The answer must obviously be found in the hydrological cycle, where the oceans play a major role together with extraterrestrial process with the Sun having the ultimate role. We know that solar energy (insolation) does not vary sufficiently to explain the climatic excursion our planet has experienced on a short and long term. It is sufficient to consider the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Warm Period, not mentioning the past ice ages, to understand that there are many complicated factors to consider before we can explain climate variability.</h2><h2>Solar activity is naturally a major player but this does not mean only total solar insolation (TSI) but also solar magnetic activity. Also the gravitational influence of the entire solar system must be taken in account, not forgetting our own natural satellite, the Moon, influencing at least ocean tides. Very interesting views on climate variability and cosmic activity have been presented by Henrik Svensmark.</h2><h2>A very simplistic example how the water cycle could adjust climate is the following mental construct: The Sun warms the ocean surface increasing evaporation. Increase in water vapour content decreases the density of the air, which thus rises to higher altitudes where eventually adiabatic cooling reaches a level where water vapour starts to condense. The availability of condensation nuclei, possibly enhanced by high energy cosmic radiation especially during low level solar magnetic activity, leads to strong cloud formation. This eventually limits solar warming of the ocean surface and decreases evaporation with less cloud formation. This entire cycle can be compared to a very effective thermostat, by some aptly termed the water thermostat responsible for keeping global temperatures at a suitable level depending on local conditions</h2>
<h2>It is interesting to note that CO2 is still believed to be the No 1 greenhouse gas instead of water vapour. Many excellent climate scientist (e.g. Richard Lindzen, Roy Spencer, John Christy, etc) have dealt with the issue and shown both in books and research articles that CO2 is a very minor player governing global climate.</h2><h2>So what drives climate?</h2><h2>The answer must obviously be found in the hydrological cycle, where the oceans play a major role together with extraterrestrial process with the Sun having the ultimate role. We know that solar energy (insolation) does not vary sufficiently to explain the climatic excursion our planet has experienced on a short and long term. It is sufficient to consider the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Warm Period, not mentioning the past ice ages, to understand that there are many complicated factors to consider before we can explain climate variability.</h2><h2>Solar activity is naturally a major player but this does not mean only total solar insolation (TSI) but also solar magnetic activity. Also the gravitational influence of the entire solar system must be taken in account, not forgetting our own natural satellite, the Moon, influencing at least ocean tides. Very interesting views on climate variability and cosmic activity have been presented by Henrik Svensmark.</h2><h2>A very simplistic example how the water cycle could adjust climate is the following mental construct: The Sun warms the ocean surface increasing evaporation. Increase in water vapour content decreases the density of the air, which thus rises to higher altitudes where eventually adiabatic cooling reaches a level where water vapour starts to condense. The availability of condensation nuclei, possibly enhanced by high energy cosmic radiation especially during low level solar magnetic activity, leads to strong cloud formation. This eventually limits solar warming of the ocean surface and decreases evaporation with less cloud formation. This entire cycle can be compared to a very effective thermostat, by some aptly termed the water thermostat responsible for keeping global temperatures at a suitable level depending on local conditions</h2>
Lichens are not parasitic when they grow on trees, they just use the tree bark as a home. They enrich the soil by trapping water, dust and silt. When lichens die they contribute organic matter to the soil, improving the soil so that other plants can grow there.
