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Solar Variability and Climate Change

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Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean 2000–2050

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series ((NAIV,volume 37))

Abstract

The variability of solar radiation is a key factor influencing the terrestrial climate. In the last few decades space-borne measurements of solar irradiance have revealed evidence of a correlation with the 11 yr solar activity cycle, although the amplitude of these changes is too small to produce significant climate variation through direct heating. However, solar activity also shows variations on larger scales that are clearly related to several climate indicators. Various feedback mechanisms are currently being explored that could amplify different internal patterns of the climate system. Finally, the influence of solar variability on the terrestrial climate is compared to that originating from other natural and anthropogenic sources, and predictions for the future are outlined.

I would like to thank the organizers for their kind invitation to participate in the NATO Workshop. We thank M Schüssler and S. Sofia for a critical reading of the paper and D.T. Shindell for supplying some figures for the talk. This work was partly financed by the Spanish PNAYAproject 2001-1649. The paper has been revised for English and style by the Scientific Editorial Service of the IAC

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  1. Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    M. Vázquez

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  1. Department of International Studies, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Marquina

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Vázquez, M. (2004). Solar Variability and Climate Change. In: Marquina, A. (eds) Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean 2000–2050. NATO Science Series, vol 37. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0973-7_2

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