Cosmic rays, clouds and climate

摘要

Striking correlations have been observed between Earth's cloud cover and the flux of galactic cosmic rays entering our atmosphere. The decrease in galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux by about 15% over much of the twentieth century has led to the hypothesis that GCRs could influence climate through their effect on cloudiness. This controversial possibility is revisited in a paper in Geophysical Research Letters by Pierce and Adams.