Kniveton, Dominic R (2004) Precipitation, cloud cover and Forbush decreases in galactic cosmic rays. Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics, 66 (13-14). pp. 1135-1142. ISSN 1364-6826

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Abstract

The results of a study to explore variations in cloud cover, over regions that are minimally affected by rainfall and heavy rainfall, and that are coincident with variations in the galactic cosmic ray flux, are presented. Using an extensive record of global satellite derived cloud and rainfall products from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) D1 data series and Xie and Arkin (1996), epoch superposition analysis of a sample of events of short term decreases in the galactic cosmic ray flux, is conducted. Analysis of data that is largely free from the influence of rainfall and heavy rainfall, averaged over 10-degree geomagnetic latitude (ϕ) bands reveals that cloud cover is reduced at high latitudes, and at middle and lower (including equatorial) latitudes over regions of relatively higher cloud cover, over both land and ocean surfaces, while increasing over ocean surfaces at middle and lower latitudes in regions of thinner cloud.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Cosmic rays, clouds, precipitation, climate, ISCCP, Forbush decrease, solar variability
Schools and Departments:	School of Global Studies > Geography
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) > G0001 Geography (General) Q Science > QC Physics
Depositing User:	SRO Admin
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2008
Last Modified:	09 Mar 2017 06:26
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/1691
Google Scholar:	19 Citations

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