The Cloud Mystery
Encyclopedia
The Cloud Mystery is a documentary
by Danish
director Lars Oxfeldt Mortensen. It explores a controversed theory by Danish
scientist Henrik Svensmark
on how galactic cosmic rays and solar activity may affect cloud
cover, and how this might influence global warming
. Also known as 'Klimamysteriet' in Danish
.
This documentary presents the polemic viewpoint of scientists who do not consider global warming is caused by anthropogenic production of carbon dioxide
. It argues that cloud cover change caused by variations in cosmic rays is a major contributor to global temperature increase, and it claims that human influence and the effect of greenhouse gases have been exaggerated.
's NRK and on TV4 Fakta
, (which can be viewed in Sweden
and Finland
.) and on Arte
(April 2. 2010, "Das Geheimnis der Wolken") in Germany.
has posted a news article from The Copenhagen Post
which gives an overview of The Cloud Mystery and how it was received in the press.
Danish
engineering trade weekly Ingenøren found that the documentary
gave a sober overview of Henrik Svensmark
s theory, though it lacked scientific criticism.
The documentary sparked a heated debate between supporters and critics of the general consensus that carbon dioxide
is the prime cause of global warming
. However, the scientific results of Svensmark and Nir Shaviv
, two of the protagonists, forming the basis of the documentary, have been criticized by Mike Lockwood and Claus Froehlich (see Galactic Cosmic Rays vs Global Temperature).
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
by Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
director Lars Oxfeldt Mortensen. It explores a controversed theory by Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
scientist Henrik Svensmark
Henrik Svensmark
Henrik Svensmark is a physicist at the Danish National Space Center in Copenhagen who studies the effects of cosmic rays on cloud formation. His work presents hypotheses about solar activity as an indirect cause of global warming; his research has suggested a possible link through the interaction...
on how galactic cosmic rays and solar activity may affect cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
cover, and how this might influence global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Also known as 'Klimamysteriet' in Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
.
This documentary presents the polemic viewpoint of scientists who do not consider global warming is caused by anthropogenic production of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
. It argues that cloud cover change caused by variations in cosmic rays is a major contributor to global temperature increase, and it claims that human influence and the effect of greenhouse gases have been exaggerated.
Where to watch it
The Cloud Mystery aired on TV2 (Denmark) in early 2008. It was also showed on NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's NRK and on TV4 Fakta
TV4 Fakta
TV4 Fakta is a Swedish documentary channel owned by TV4 Group. It started broadcasting in 2005.Much of the programming is taken from the A&E Television Networks. Since December 2005, the remainder of the schedule is filled with the English language Euronews...
, (which can be viewed in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.) and on Arte
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
(April 2. 2010, "Das Geheimnis der Wolken") in Germany.
Opinions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of DenmarkMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and its overseas representations are in charge of Denmark's foreign affairs...
has posted a news article from The Copenhagen Post
The Copenhagen Post
The Copenhagen Post is a weekly newspaper providing Danish news in English both nationally and internationally; it is the only English-language newspaper published in Denmark. Founded in November 1997 by San Shepherd, The Copenhagen Post has a weekly circulation of between 12,000 and 15,000...
which gives an overview of The Cloud Mystery and how it was received in the press.
Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
engineering trade weekly Ingenøren found that the documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
gave a sober overview of Henrik Svensmark
Henrik Svensmark
Henrik Svensmark is a physicist at the Danish National Space Center in Copenhagen who studies the effects of cosmic rays on cloud formation. His work presents hypotheses about solar activity as an indirect cause of global warming; his research has suggested a possible link through the interaction...
s theory, though it lacked scientific criticism.
The documentary sparked a heated debate between supporters and critics of the general consensus that carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
is the prime cause of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. However, the scientific results of Svensmark and Nir Shaviv
Nir Shaviv
Nir Joseph Shaviv is an Israeli/American physics professor, carrying out research in the fields of astrophysics and climate science. He is currently an associate professor at the Racah Institute of Physics of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
, two of the protagonists, forming the basis of the documentary, have been criticized by Mike Lockwood and Claus Froehlich (see Galactic Cosmic Rays vs Global Temperature).
See also
- Cosmic Rays – Role in climate change
- Milky wayMilky WayThe Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
- Barred spiral galaxyBarred spiral galaxyA barred spiral galaxy is a spiral galaxy with a central bar-shaped structure composed of stars. Bars are found in approximately two-thirds of all spiral galaxies...
- Cloud condensation nucleiCloud condensation nucleiCloud condensation nuclei or CCNs are small particles typically 0.2 µm, or 1/100 th the size of a cloud droplet ) about which cloud droplets coalesce. Water requires a non-gaseous surface to make the transition from a vapour to a liquid. In the atmosphere, this surface presents itself as tiny...
- The Chilling StarsThe Chilling StarsThe Chilling Stars is a non-fiction book about the possible causes and effects of global climate change by Henrik Svensmark and Nigel Calder. The paperback version was published by Totem Books on March 19, 2003...
- The Great Global Warming SwindleThe Great Global Warming SwindleThe Great Global Warming Swindle is a polemical documentary film that suggests that the scientific opinion on climate change is influenced by funding and political factors, and questions whether scientific consensus on anthropogenic global warming exists....
External links
- The Cloud Mystery
- Another Inconvenient Truth? - The Copenhagen PostThe Copenhagen PostThe Copenhagen Post is a weekly newspaper providing Danish news in English both nationally and internationally; it is the only English-language newspaper published in Denmark. Founded in November 1997 by San Shepherd, The Copenhagen Post has a weekly circulation of between 12,000 and 15,000...
's overview of The Cloud Mystery and how it was received in the DanishDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
press. - Anmeldelse: Svensmarks klimamysterie på TV2 - review of The Cloud Mystery in Danish engineering trade weekly Ingenøren.
- Official Website for The Cloud Mystery
- Website for director Lars Oxfeldt Mortensen
- Other documentary movies of Lars Oxfeldt Mortensen disputing the anthropic Global WarmingGlobal warmingGlobal warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
(AGW): - Epic Sound - official website for Simon RavnSimon RavnSimon Ravn is a composer who composes orchestral music for film, television and video games.In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he wrote music in the MOD format under the pseudonym "Melomaniac", and scored music for the Amiga game, Foundation.- Video games :*Genetic Species *1999 Foundation *2004 ...
, who composed the music for The Cloud Mystery - Plot outline from TV2 World
- Nielsostenfeld.dk – official website for Niels Ostenfeld, film editor, The Cloud Mystery