Strong signature of the active Sun in 100 years of terrestrial insolation data

Abstract

Terrestrial solar irradiance data of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory from 1905 to 1954 and of Mauna Loa Observatory from 1958 to 2008 are analyzed. The analysis shows that, with changing solar activity, the atmosphere modifies the solar irradiance on the percentage level, in all likelihood via cosmic ray intensity variations produced by the active sun. The analysis strongly suggests that cosmic rays cause a large part of the atmospheric aerosols. These aerosols show specific absorption and scattering properties due to an inner structure of hydrated ionic centers, most probably of O − 2 and O + 2 produced by the cosmic rays.

Comment on “Strong signature of the active Sun in 100 years of terrestrial insolation data” by W. Weber

“…Using a simple argument based on the energy budget at Earth's surface one can show that a variation of terrestrial insolation with solar activity on the percentage level -as reported in [1] -would lead to unrealistically large temperature fluctuations which are not observed in the instrumental surface temperature record. To first order, the relationship between surface temperature T s and terrestrial insolation I s is governed by the balance between the absorbed short-wave radiation I s (1 − α s ) and the long-wave emission εσT 4 s according to the Stefan-Boltzmann law, with the surface reflectivity or albedo α s , the emissivity ε and the Stefan-Boltzmann constant σ.…”

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An analysis of ground-based observations of solar irradiance was recently published in this journal, reporting an apparent increase of solar irradiance on the ground of the order of 1% between solar minima and maxima [1]. Since the corresponding variations in total solar irradiance on top of the atmosphere are accurately determined from satellite observations to be of the order of 0.1% only [2], the one order of magnitude stronger effect in the terrestrial insolation data was interpreted as evidence for cosmic-ray induced aerosol formation in the atmosphere.

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Reply to the Comment of G. Feulner

“…Georg Feulner starts his comment [1] pointing out that modulations of the terrestric solar irradiance of order 1%, as presented in my paper [2], are incompatible with the observed global temperature variations. His claim is based on the results of climate model calculations (see his Fig.…”

“…1 and references in [1]). He then argues that the SAO data (and probably also the Mauna Loa data analysed in [2]) are fouled up by volcanic eruptions and, towards the end of the SAO data series, possibly by anthropogenically generated aerosols. In a previous paper [3], where he has presented a detailed critique of my paper, he has pointed out some more problems of the SAO data.…”

Influence of Solar Cycle Variations on Solar Spectral Radiation

“…There is now a broad consensus that there is a small, but discernible influence of solar variability on the climate on decadal and longer time scales [3]. The effect of these changes on temperature noted by some researchers [4], comes in coincidence with the change in solar irradiance. Furthermore, there are claims that the sunspot cycle is associated with changes in storm tracks and rainfall [5].…”