Low Cloud Properties Influenced by Cosmic Rays

Marsh, Nigel; Svensmark, Henrik

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.85.5004

Cited by 402 publications

(393 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…We have determined that the climate signals in all three records strongly correlate with changes in the polarity of solar dipole magnetic field, suggesting a causal link to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). These findings are further supported by a comparison between the interannual patterns of tree-ring δ 18 O record and the GCR flux reconstructed by an ice-core 10 Be record. Therefore, the variation of GCR flux associated with the multidecadal cycles of solar magnetic field seem to be causally related to the significant and widespread climate changes at least during the Maunder Minimum.…”

supporting

confidence: 58%

“…There is some uncertainty in dating of ice cores, however, the timing of the steep peaks in 10 Be flux (around A.D. 1640, 1670, 1700, and 1725) are generally consistent with the timing of solar minima of negative polarity deduced from the 14 C production anomaly and the steep negative spikes in our tree-ring δ 18 O record (see the next paragraph). The difference of 10 Be flux between solar polarities should be originated from drift effect as described above, although the actual overall enhancement of GCR flux could be slightly smaller than the reconstruction by 10 Be records due to the possible local climate influence on 10 Be deposit (41). The signal of superimposed δ 18 O around the solar minima of positive polarity is less significant and shows different shape, which could be explained by a broad signal of GCR flux (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Note that the reconstructed timings of GCR flux maxima are slightly different between the tree-ring Δ 14 C record and the ice-core 10 Be flux record, probably because of the dating error of ice-core records. Note also that the record of 14 C production is based on absolute age, whereas the amplitude variation is not as reliable as 10 Be record. Dotted lines in (A) show standard deviations (AE1σ) of replicate analysis of the tree-ring δ 18 O.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other major possible mechanisms include solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation that promotes chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere (5)(6)(7)(8) and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). The latter are modulated by solar and terrestrial magnetic activity, and may enhance cloud formation (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). However, it is difficult to evaluate the exact role of each solar parameter in climate change, because instrumentally measured solar-related parameters such as TSI, UV, and GCR fluxes are more or less synchronized and only extend back for several decades.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synchronized Northern Hemisphere climate change and solar magnetic cycles during the Maunder Minimum

Yamaguchi

Yokoyama

Miyahara

et al. 2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The Maunder Minimum (A.D. 1645Minimum (A.D. -1715) is a useful period to investigate possible sun-climate linkages as sunspots became exceedingly rare and the characteristics of solar cycles were different from those of today. Here, we report annual variations in the oxygen isotopic composition (δ 18 O) of tree-ring cellulose in central Japan during the Maunder Minimum. We were able to explore possible sun-climate connections through high-temporal resolution solar activity (radiocarbon contents; Δ 14 C) and climate (δ 18 O) isotope records derived from annual tree rings. The tree-ring δ 18 O record in Japan shows distinct negative δ 18 O spikes (wetter rainy seasons) coinciding with rapid cooling in Greenland and with decreases in Northern Hemisphere mean temperature at around minima of decadal solar cycles. We have determined that the climate signals in all three records strongly correlate with changes in the polarity of solar dipole magnetic field, suggesting a causal link to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). These findings are further supported by a comparison between the interannual patterns of tree-ring δ 18 O record and the GCR flux reconstructed by an ice-core 10 Be record. Therefore, the variation of GCR flux associated with the multidecadal cycles of solar magnetic field seem to be causally related to the significant and widespread climate changes at least during the Maunder Minimum. solar forcing of climate | little ice age | paleoclimate reconstruction | grand solar minimum | tree-ring isotope climatology

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supporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synchronized Northern Hemisphere climate change and solar magnetic cycles during the Maunder Minimum

Yamaguchi

Yokoyama

Miyahara

et al. 2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Also, a link between solar activity and cloud cover through the action of cosmic rays has been proposed [5] and widely discussed [6]. Recently, a number of studies took a new approach to the problem, looking into paleoclimatic records of atmospheric moisture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar Forcing of the Stream Flow of a Continental Scale South American River

2008

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Solar forcing on climate has been reported in several studies although the evidence so far remains inconclusive. Here, we analyze the streamflow of one of the largest rivers in the world, the Paraná in southeastern South America. For the last century, we find a strong correlation with Sunspot Number, in multi-decadal time scales, with larger solar activity corresponding with larger streamflow. The correlation coefficient is r=0.78, significant to a 99% level. In shorter timescales we find a strong correlation with El Niño. These results are a step toward flood prediction, which might have large social and economic impacts.

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The response of clouds and aerosols to cosmic ray decreases

et al. 2016

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A method is developed to rank Forbush decreases (FDs) in the galactic cosmic ray radiation according to their expected impact on the ionization of the lower atmosphere. Then a Monte Carlo bootstrap‐based statistical test is formulated to estimate the significance of the apparent response in physical and microphysical cloud parameters to FDs. The test is subsequently applied to one ground‐based and three satellite‐based data sets. Responses (>95%) to FDs are found in the following parameters of the analyzed data sets. AERONET: Ångström exponent (cloud condensation nuclei changes), SSM/I: liquid water content, International Satellite Cloud Climate Project (ISCCP): total, high, and middle, IR‐detected clouds over the oceans, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS): cloud effective emissivity, cloud optical thickness, liquid water, cloud fraction, liquid water path, and liquid cloud effective radius. Moreover, the responses in MODIS are found to correlate positively with the strength of the FDs, and the signs and magnitudes of the responses agree with model‐based expectations. The effect is mainly seen in liquid clouds. An impact through changes in UV‐driven photo chemistry is shown to be negligible and an impact via UV absorption in the stratosphere is found to have no effect on clouds. The total solar irradiance has a relative decrease in connection with FDs of the order of 10−3, which is too small to have a thermodynamic impact on timescales of a few days. The results demonstrate that there is a real influence of FDs on clouds probably through ions.

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Low Cloud Properties Influenced by Cosmic Rays

Cited by 402 publications

References 27 publications

Synchronized Northern Hemisphere climate change and solar magnetic cycles during the Maunder Minimum

Synchronized Northern Hemisphere climate change and solar magnetic cycles during the Maunder Minimum

Solar Forcing of the Stream Flow of a Continental Scale South American River

The response of clouds and aerosols to cosmic ray decreases

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