The results of the study showed that clouds are also formed by stars. A landmark study from the Technical University of Denmark explains how cosmic rays interact with the earth's atmosphere and influence cloud formation.
Cloud formation issues are very important in the study of climate change. “Finally, we got the final piece of the puzzle that explains how cosmic particles affect the Earth's climate,” said study leader Henrik Svensmark. "This allows us to understand how changes in solar activity, or a supernova explosion, can affect the climate."
Cosmic rays
Scientists have found that cosmic rays - the high-energy particles emitted when stars explode - knock electrons out of air molecules, creating positive and negative ions. Ions, on the other hand, serve as condensation centers for water vapor, which leads to the formation of water droplets that form clouds. The more ions, the more condensation centers in the cloud.
It was also found that ions help aerosols - clusters of water molecules and sulfuric acid molecules - to form and remain resistant to evaporation. To affect the cloud, the small primary aerosols must increase in mass by a factor of a million.
Magnetic activity of the sun
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Changes in the magnetic activity of the Sun affect the flux of cosmic rays falling on the Earth. According to the researchers, during the period of the magnetic "calm" on the Sun, the flux of cosmic rays on the Earth increases, more low clouds are formed, and as a result it becomes cooler, since low clouds consisting of water droplets cool the earth's surface.
The results obtained suggest that this mechanism influenced the climate changes noted in the 20th century. It could also be the cause of periodic cooling and warming, on average by 2 C⁰, that have occurred over the past 10,000 years as a result of changes in solar activity and, consequently, the flux of cosmic rays.
“Clouds have a significant impact on how much of the sun's energy reaches the earth's surface, so these results will have a significant impact on our understanding of both the causes of climate change in the past and possible changes in the future,” summarizes the report.
Vadim Tarabarko