Heliophysics: Climate Connection

To what extent does solar variability affect the Earth's climate? Even though solar forcing (TSI) associated for example with the 11-year cycle is significantly lower than the radiative forcing resulting from the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, solar variability has an substantial impact on the thermal balance and on the chemical composition of the upper and middle atmosphere. Such signal could potentially propagate downward (dynamical amplification) and affect the troposphere and hence the entire climate system.

The paper will review possible mechanisms by which the climate system could be affected by solar variability.