Atmospheric ionization and cloud radiative forcing
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Atmospheric ionization and cloud radiative forcing. / Svensmark, Henrik; Svensmark, Jacob; Enghoff, Martin Bodker; Shaviv, Nir J.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 11, No. 1, 19668, 11.10.2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Atmospheric ionization and cloud radiative forcing
AU - Svensmark, Henrik
AU - Svensmark, Jacob
AU - Enghoff, Martin Bodker
AU - Shaviv, Nir J.
PY - 2021/10/11
Y1 - 2021/10/11
N2 - Atmospheric ionization produced by cosmic rays has been suspected to influence aerosols and clouds, but its actual importance has been questioned. If changes in atmospheric ionization have a substantial impact on clouds, one would expect to observe significant responses in Earth's energy budget. Here it is shown that the average of the five strongest week-long decreases in atmospheric ionization coincides with changes in the average net radiative balance of 1.7 W/m(2) (median value: 1.2 W/m(2)) using CERES satellite observations. Simultaneous satellite observations of clouds show that these variations are mainly caused by changes in the short-wave radiation of low liquid clouds along with small changes in the long-wave radiation, and are almost exclusively located over the pristine areas of the oceans. These observed radiation and cloud changes are consistent with a link in which atmospheric ionization modulates aerosol's formation and growth, which survive to cloud condensation nuclei and ultimately affect cloud formation and thereby temporarily the radiative balance of Earth.
AB - Atmospheric ionization produced by cosmic rays has been suspected to influence aerosols and clouds, but its actual importance has been questioned. If changes in atmospheric ionization have a substantial impact on clouds, one would expect to observe significant responses in Earth's energy budget. Here it is shown that the average of the five strongest week-long decreases in atmospheric ionization coincides with changes in the average net radiative balance of 1.7 W/m(2) (median value: 1.2 W/m(2)) using CERES satellite observations. Simultaneous satellite observations of clouds show that these variations are mainly caused by changes in the short-wave radiation of low liquid clouds along with small changes in the long-wave radiation, and are almost exclusively located over the pristine areas of the oceans. These observed radiation and cloud changes are consistent with a link in which atmospheric ionization modulates aerosol's formation and growth, which survive to cloud condensation nuclei and ultimately affect cloud formation and thereby temporarily the radiative balance of Earth.
KW - CONDENSATION NUCLEI
KW - PARTICLE FORMATION
KW - COSMIC-RAYS
KW - MODIS
KW - AEROSOLS
KW - TROPOSPHERE
KW - NUCLEATION
KW - EARTH
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-021-99033-1
DO - 10.1038/s41598-021-99033-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34635727
VL - 11
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
IS - 1
M1 - 19668
ER -
ID: 282471381