The Cloud Mystery

Versions of this FilmLanguage (Type)
The Cloud MysteryEnglish (original)zum Film
(Das Geheimnis der Wolken)German ()zum Film
((The Cloud Mystery)) ()zum Film
Synopsis
“Our clouds take their orders from the stars,” says the Danish scientist Henrik Svensmark. That's the amazing and provocative discovery reported here. Most experts thought the idea was crazy.

The film records ten years of effort by the small team in Copenhagen that, in the
end, solved the mystery of how the Galaxy and the Sun interfere in our everyday weather.

It's provocative because Dr Svensmark's revelations challenge the belief of most climate theorists that carbon dioxide has been the main driver of global warming. As a result he has faced never-ending opposition.

But strong support for the cosmic view of climate change comes from astronomer Nir Shaviv and geologist Jan Veizer. In the film they tell how the Galaxy has governed the Earth's ever-changing climate over 500 million years.

The Cloud Mystery is aimed at a wide audience. Astonishing pictures from our Galaxy, the Sun, and cloud formations are mixed with spectacular animations to simplify the science. Comments by astronomers, geologists and climate experts convey their sense of adventure, and give scientific weight to the discoveries presented. The audience is taken on a trip around the world, where scientists from Denmark, Israel, Canada, the USA, and Norway contribute to this exciting story.

Linking all the discoveries is the non-stop rain of cosmic rays – energetic particles from exploded stars that battle with the Sun's magnetic field to reach the Earth. Central in the story is an experiment in a Copenhagen basement. It showed how cosmic rays help to make chemical specks in the air on which water drops condense to make clouds.

The story concludes that clouds are the main driver of climate change on Earth.

The documentary follows Henrik Svensmark in his struggle to find the physical evidence of a celestial climate driver. The film demonstrates that science can be a rough place to be if you are in opposition to the established “truth”.
Watch the Trailer
Runtime (in min.):52
Color:color
Year Of Production:2007
Countries of Production:Denmark
People featured in the FilmTypeComment
Henrik Svensmarkinterviewee 
Frank Startmanninterviewee 
Companies & Organizations
Production Company:

Mortensen Film

Miscellaneous Companies:

ARTE F

Filmmakers
Directing:

Lars Oxfeldt Mortensen

Shooting Location: 
Shooting LocationsComment
Leibniz-Institut für Troposphärenforschung, Germany
Releases
Releases: 
MediaCountryDateComment
TV PremiereGermany02.04.2010
Keywords
Wolken; Wolkensimulator; Klimawandel; Treibhauseffekt; Klima; globale Erwärmung
Categories
Nature, Environment & Ecology, Climate Change / Global Warming, Science, Research & Inventions, Meteorology & Weather