First ... I never said changes in cloud cover never happened before. I said the data of the two papers (and their authors conclusions) where that the current rise in temperature is more likely due to a natural influence from changes in cloud cover than any alterations in Greenhouse Gases (there are other natural forcings as well). Unlike previous periods, we have these things called SATELITES, that previous people didn't have. They record real time data ...no tree rings, or stalagmites, and magical statistics, etc needed. This is consistent with a previous report in Geology at Stanford looking at "young earth" conditions back when the sun was only 70% as bright and CO2 was practically non-existent. Temperatures were similar as they are today. The conclusion in that paper was that the earth's temperature is dominated by the water cycle. According to their data, the oceans receive and store solar heat, and it is the OCEAN that serves as the primary heating element of the atmosphere, as the stored heat moves from the ocean to the atmosphere, then back out to space. Clouds are the regulator of incoming solar energy, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. Lindzen showed this with the Iris Effect that operates in the ITCZ, and how it serves as a "chimney" of sorts, transporting massive amounts of heat away from the surface while shutting off incoming short wave solar radiation. It's interesting, The surface temperature in the Tropics NEVER goes above 30C When it hits that point, .the clouds take over. In fact, Willis has even shown how this process works.
As for "Judging" the Climate good or bad, as well as your question about 44 years. The Climate is easily within its normal range at the moment. "Good" or "Bad" is not relevant, but if you consider that it is the Climate Optimums of each epic that are conducive to life, and where life flourishes, I'd say it is pretty damn good. Ice core data from Vostok clearly show that the optimums were considerably warmer than today. The last 150 years, and for that matter even the last 2000 years, to include both the Sporer, Maunder and Dalton minimums and the Roman, MWP, and modern warm period are nothing more than wiggles in the longer record. There are those who actually say we are living in an Ice Age, defined by the presence of Ice at one or more of the poles at anytime during the year. The Ice Caps did not exists during the Optimums, and hence why sea level is nowhere near it's highest point recorded in geology. That perspective as well is consistent with the longer term ice core data that clearly show rapid warming to the optimum, then a gradual cooling off back to ice age conditions over the next thousands of years.
On your last question ... about people being born, given that we only live 80 years or so, there is no person who will experience climate on climate's scale. As you said, a person born in the MWP would think the earth is quite warm, one born in the Maunder or Dalton would think it is quite cold, one born today would again think it is quite warm. But as I said, compared to the Halocene Climate Optimum, we are ALL freezing to death!
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