The Influence of Solar Activity on Global Climate—Aerosol Production by Galactic Cosmic Rays—

Abstract

As one of mechanisms of the influence of variability in solar activity on the global climate, the atmospheric ionization by reaction of the galactic cosmic rays with atmosphere has an important role. A correlation between the galactic cosmic-ray intensity and the global cloud cover has been observed and a hypothesis is suggested that the variability in the solar activity controls global climate through the cosmic rays. It is necessary to clarify the mechanism of the correlation as well as verification of observed quantities. Here we describe how the cosmic rays produce aerosol particles, which originate cloud condensation nuclei. We also introduce the present status of laboratory experiments to verify these processes.