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The lull in global warming from 1998 to 2008 was mainly caused by a sharp rise in China's coal use. The new study concludes that smog from the extra coal acted to mask greenhouse warming. China's coal use doubled 2002-2007, according to US government figures. Although burning the coal produced more warming carbon dioxide, it also put more tiny sulphate aerosol particles into the atmosphere which cool the planet by reflecting solar energy back into space.[Source: BBC News]
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