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OK, and what's the mechanism for the action of dust on the climate that would explain the recent increases in temperature?
I thought you were conversant with global warming and global cooling Luci. Warming may be caused by an increase in solar insolation, or a reduction in outgoing long-wave radiation and cooling may be caused by a reduction in solar insolation, or an increase in outgoing long-wave radiation (or partly by each of those mentioned before, as a mix).
There are also biasing effects that move energy from one part of the climate system to another. For example, atmospheric dust (aerosol particulates) may well (depending on the type of particulate) absorb, or reflect, more energy in the atmosphere than would be if the particulate wasn't there. The end result - whether the atmosphere absorbs more energy or not - is that Earth's surface doesn't receive as much solar insolation. Solar insolation is biased to alter from its normal surface and ocean warming, to the atmosphere or back into space.
I could go on, as there are other phenomenon that can cause biasing, but I'll not.
Personally (although I'm sure most others would disagree), I think that the recent total solar insolation level is the prime candidate for the recent changes that we've observed, together with a less marked effect by agents introduced from anthropogenic sources.
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Oh right! There are no recent increases in temperature. So why are we looking at dust again?
Two main reasons. There seems to be new "open" evidence, and Son of Mulder's pet subject is/was aerosols. Why pose this question?
Best regards, suricat.