Atmospheric ionization and cloud radiative forcing

Henrik Svensmark*, Jacob Svensmark, Martin Bodker Enghoff, Nir J. Shaviv

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

16 Citationer (Scopus)
13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Atmospheric ionization produced by cosmic rays has been suspected to influence aerosols and clouds, but its actual importance has been questioned. If changes in atmospheric ionization have a substantial impact on clouds, one would expect to observe significant responses in Earth's energy budget. Here it is shown that the average of the five strongest week-long decreases in atmospheric ionization coincides with changes in the average net radiative balance of 1.7 W/m(2) (median value: 1.2 W/m(2)) using CERES satellite observations. Simultaneous satellite observations of clouds show that these variations are mainly caused by changes in the short-wave radiation of low liquid clouds along with small changes in the long-wave radiation, and are almost exclusively located over the pristine areas of the oceans. These observed radiation and cloud changes are consistent with a link in which atmospheric ionization modulates aerosol's formation and growth, which survive to cloud condensation nuclei and ultimately affect cloud formation and thereby temporarily the radiative balance of Earth.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer19668
TidsskriftScientific Reports
Vol/bind11
Udgave nummer1
Antal sider13
ISSN2045-2322
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 11 okt. 2021

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