Quote:
Originally Posted by dmr81
Yes it is ATM -- if it weren't it would be included in the IPCC report as a climate forcing.
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Actually, whether or not it is in the IPCC report has little connection to whether the topic is ATM. If you look at the
4th IPCC report there is no significant discussion of the solar influence on climate - which is ridiculous considering the huge body of research indicating a significant solar influence on the Earth's climate on both small and large timescales - including significant influence in the last 100 years.
One area of research with regard to the solar influence on climate is the possibility that in addition to the variations in total solar irradiance - which have a direct influence on climate - there is also an indirect influence on climate due to mechanisms by which variations in solar magnetic activity can influence the amount of cloudcover. The proposed mechanism is a modulation of cosmic ray intensity due to variation in the strength of the solar magnetic field. As the solar field strengthens, fewer cosmic rays enter the Earth's atmosphere. It has been hypothesized that interactions of cosmic rays with the earth's atmosphere can result in increasing cloud formation. So when you have a less active sun you would also have a greater amount of cloud cover which would re-inforce the reduced solar irradiance resulting in a cooling effect.
There have been some studies that seem to support the possibility for connection between solar activity and cloud cover, but others dispute it. It seems to be in the "
Yes there are correlations." "No
there are not correlations." stage of research.
At any rate, IMO the IPCC has been irresponsible in not providing any substantive background on the large amount of research into solar forcing of climate in their summary reports.