Why is there so little research on alternate causes of global warming such as increase in solar radiation which may also be melting ice on Mars?

Answer 1

ANSWER Possibly because all scientific research tends to be focussed on things which, if found to be true, can be handled by current knowledge,

Were we to find that solar radiation plays a part in global warming, what could we do about it? We can hardly shield the planet, or turn off the radiation.

Far better to focus on what we can change.

And, if it turns out that our pollution and environmental damage is less guilty than we thought, then all the more reason to do what we can to change these things - as they are the only things we can currently do anything about.

Also, research has to be funded.

Those who do the funding tend to expect some return on their investment.

Research into the effect of solar radiation on Mars would be a huge drain on any funding organisation. How would it be determined that any melting of Martian ice was directly due to solar radiation and not some other cause, without sending a fleet of missions to the surface which would be required to remain there for a considerable time, constantly reporting back?

ANSWER Possibly because all scientific research tends to be focussed on things which are in accord with preconceived ideas.

Were we to find that solar radiation plays a part in global warming, what could we do about it? Serious plans have been developed to shield the planet, or deflect the radiation, but these are expensive as presently conceived.

Far better to focus on what we can change such as relocation of populations likely to be flooded out of their homes.

And, if it turns out that our pollution and environmental damage is less guilty than we thought, then we will be faced with having to revisit the solar increase or other possible reason, hopefully while we still have an economy capable of creating more suitable infrastructure.

Also, research has to be funded.

Those who do the funding tend to expect some advantage from their investment.

Research into the effect of solar radiation on Mars would initially be inexpensively conducted from Earth by observing more closely Martian ice caps and other inter planetary evidence of solar radiation. Confirming such findings would be a huge drain on any funding organization but far below the cost of presently conceived carbon capture systems. Given the nature of the above case, it can only be concluded that the present research is politically driven, possibly using scare tactics to force humans to use less non renewable resources which are thought to have peaked, while the tax system is designed to allow advantaged groups to continue their fossil usage unhampered (ie as a business deduction).