Originally Posted by DieselAddict

The global mean temp doesn't seem to be affected by the normal 11-year sun cycle. At least I looked at the recent data and I couldn't see a correlation. Global cooling results mostly from clouds and pollution in the atmosphere. As our atmosphere is slowly cleaned up thanks to better emission control, global warming is showing its true face (the vast majority of the hottest years on record were the last 10 or so). Right now the warming seems temporarily stopped, but that could be due to the abnormally long period of low sunspot activity. It'd be nice if it continued, but as scientists have predicted I fear the activity will resume and in 2010 and thereafter we'll be roasting like never before.