Sunspots
By: Morgan J, Madison G, Bennett S, and Julia M
How/why does it change the climate?
Sunspots change the climate in significant ways and very complex ways. The sun spots make solar flares that hit our outer atmosphere and our ozone layer.
Solar energetic particles and cosmic rays could reduce ozone levels in the stratosphere. This in turn alters the behavior of the atmosphere below it, perhaps even pushing storms off course.
How much does it affect climate?
The most noticeable effect of sunspots in our climate are the northern and southern lights. The magnetic field that is projected are much more powerful than the magnetic field that protects Earth. Sunspots cause an increase in ultraviolet rays that emit from the outer ring of the sunspots toward Earth. The increase in the Ultraviolet rays affects chemistry of the outer atmosphere and the energy balance of Earth. The increase of sunspots on the surface of the sun can reduce the amount of energy and light distributed to Earth. This decrease in energy can result in colder weather.
Does it account for the increase in C02 or temperature from the last few decades?
Global Warming, a gradual increase in planet-wide temperatures - is now well documented and accepted by scientists as fact. Finding that the average temperatures may increase by 2.5 - 10.4º F by the 21st century. Knowing this, it is important for us to look over all the main causes of such increases. After analyzing the data of the graph on the previous slide, you can see that Sunspots do a have a major effect on our climate, although it doesn’t seem to be affecting the Carbon - dioxide’s increasing rate. Therefore Sunspots do affect climate, although Carbon Dioxide’s increasing rate may be due to other causes.
Are sunspots a problem that humanity should solve?
No, Sunspots are a natural thing and it would be virtually impossible to stop sunspots from happening. If we had the technology to stop sunspots from appearing we should do something about it, but right now we can’t since we don’t have the right technology.