[geeks] Global Warming causes...

[der Mouse]

> Still can't fathom how a radiation particle can create a solid
> particle of any appreciable size.

I have seen it said that the highest-energy cosmic rays carry
macroscopic quantities of kinetic energy.  I don't know how true this
actually is - I've seen it in just one offhand reference, which
compared the impact of such a particle on our planet to that of a
thrown baseball - but, if that's not just bad reporting, it could
certainly explain it.

And, in any case, the trail of ions left as even the lighter ones plow
through the atmosphere is a dandy trail of nuclei for particulate
condensation - much the same effect that cloud chambers work on.

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