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What is the influence of trends in solar output on the atmosphere and oceans?
Posted on August 3rd, 2009Categorized as Climate, Earth System Tagged as atmosphere, oceans, sun
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Because of the comparatively short period for which we have observations of the variations in the sun’s energy output, we have no reliable information of its longer-term trends and their probable effect on the earth’s temperature trends. Yet studies of indirect observations from Beryllium to numbers of sunspots suggest such and effect, despite present popular opinion derived from model experiments. How can we approach the problem in an objective manner?
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This question appears predicated on the existence of longer-term trends in solar output. I am not aware of any trends in stellar evolution (excepting supernova explosions)acting on human time-scales. It is certainly of interest to know more about longer-period variations in solar luminosity, and their influence on Earth, but a clear distinction should be acknowledged between dynamics of the natural sysem and additional forcings such as greenhose gas emissions.
It seems a quesiton for astrophysicists as much as for Earth systems science.