. 24/7 Space News .
SOLAR SCIENCE
Improved representation of solar variability in climate models
by Staff Writers
Kiel, Germany (SPX) Jul 07, 2017


The yellow shows old reconstruction, the black shows new reconstruction and the grey shaded shows observations. Credit GEOMAR.

How much do solar cycle variations influence our climate system? Could the rising Earth temperatures due to anthropogenic effects partly be compensated by a reduction of solar forcing in the future?

These questions have been in the focus of climate research for a long time. In order to answer these questions as precisely as possible, it is required to know the fluctuations of solar forcing on the timescale of the 11-year sunspot cycle as precisely as possible in order to use these as input parameters for climate model simulations.

An international research team led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC) in Granada (Spain) have now published a new dataset, which will be used as a basis for all upcoming model intercomparison studies and in particular the next climate assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"For solar irradiance, we have essentially combined two data sets, one from our American colleagues and one from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Gottingen", explains the first author Prof. Dr. Katja Matthes from GEOMAR.

"In this new data set, the variability in the shortwave part of the solar spectrum, the so-called UV range, is stronger than before. This leads to a warming of the stratosphere and increased ozone production at the maximum of the Sun's activity", Matthes continues.

The scientists expect that this new solar forcing will lead to more pronounced signals in the stratosphere at heights between 15 and 50 kilometres which might influence surface climate through complicated interaction mechanisms. Further innovations of the data set are a new reference value for the so-called "solar constant", the total solar irradiance, i.e. the irradiance averaged over all wavelengths. The new estimate is with 1361 watts per square meter lower than before. In addition the effects of energetic particles are considered.

The new data set will be used in the coming years as a reference for the sixth cycle of an internationally coordinated intercomparison project of coupled ocean-atmosphere models. The so-called CMIP (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project) experiments are already performed since several decades. They are an important quality check for climate models and are the basis for IPCC's climate assessment reports.

What do scientists expect from the new data set? "In our future scenario for CMIP6, we provide a more sophisticated estimate of the future development of solar activity after 2015", explains Dr.

Bernd Funke, from CSIC, co-author of the study. "By 2070 a decrease of the Sun's mean activity to a smaller solar minimum is expected. This counteracts the anthropogenic global warming signal, but will not have a significant influence on the development of global average surface temperatures", Dr. Funke continues. However, regional effects should not negligible. In addition, for the first time a quantification of solar irradiance and particle effects will be possible.

The new data set is the outcome of a large, interdisciplinary team effort, from solar physicists and energetic particle experts to climate modellers. This work has been carried out as part of an international project of the World Climate Research Programme. Under the leadership of Katja Matthes and Bernd Funke, the worldwide expertise on this topic was combined to create the best possible assessment of past, present and future solar variability.

"The new data set will help to further improve our understanding of natural decadal climate variability and to distinguish natural more clearly from anthropogenic processes", Prof. Matthes concludes.

Research paper

SOLAR SCIENCE
Scientists uncover origins of the Sun's swirling spicules
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jul 06, 2017
At any given moment, as many as 10 million wild jets of solar material burst from the sun's surface. They erupt as fast as 60 miles per second, and can reach lengths of 6,000 miles before collapsing. These are spicules, and despite their grass-like abundance, scientists didn't understand how they form. Now, for the first time, a computer simulation - so detailed it took a full year to run - show ... read more

Related Links
Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Solar Science News at SpaceDaily


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SOLAR SCIENCE
Creating Trends in Space: An Interview with NanoRacks CEO Jeffrey Manber

Counting calories in space

Trump offers bold space goals but fills in few details

Liftoff for Trump's bold space plans may have to wait

SOLAR SCIENCE
Hypersonic Travel Possibility Heats Up Massively After New Material Discovery

Aerojet Rocketdyne tests Advanced Electric Propulsion System

Russia to Carry Out Five Launches From Vostochny Space Center in 2018

Spiky ferrofluid thrusters can move satellites

SOLAR SCIENCE
Curiosity Mars Rover Begins Study of Ridge Destination

Tributes to wetter times on Mars

Opportunity will spend three weeks at current location due to Solar Conjunction

Mars surface 'more uninhabitable' than thought: study

SOLAR SCIENCE
China develops sea launches to boost space commerce

Chinese Rocket Fizzles Out, Puts Other Launches on Hold

Chinese satellite Zhongxing-9A enters preset orbit

Chinese Space Program: From Setback, to Manned Flights, to the Moon

SOLAR SCIENCE
LISA Pathfinder: bake, rattle and roll

100M Pound boost for UK space sector

Iridium Poised to Make Global Maritime Distress and Safety System History

HTS Capacity Lease Revenues to Reach More Than $6 Billion by 2025

SOLAR SCIENCE
Spacepath Communications Announces Innovative Frequency Converter Systems

WVU to develop software for future NASA Mars rovers, test 3-D printed foams on ISS

Giant enhancement of electromagnetic waves revealed within small dielectric particles

ANU invention may help to protect astronauts from radiation in space

SOLAR SCIENCE
Evidence discovered for two distinct giant planet populations

Molecular Outflow Launched Beyond Disk Around Young Star

Hidden Stars May Make Planets Appear Smaller

More to Life Than the Habitable Zone

SOLAR SCIENCE
NASA spacecraft to fly over Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Juno Completes Flyby over Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Juno spots Jupiter's Great Red Spot

New evidence in support of the Planet Nine hypothesis









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.