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Cosmic rays and stratospheric aerosols: Evidence for a connection?
Author(s) -
Vanhellemont Filip,
Fussen Didier,
Bingen Christine
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl015567
Subject(s) - cosmic ray , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , stratosphere , aerosol , neutron monitor , cosmic cancer database , physics , meteorology , astrophysics
In the search for the hypothetical missing link between a variety of atmospheric parameters and solar variability, we apply a Granger causality test to monthly averages of neutron counts (a proxy for cosmic rays), as measured at the Climax station, and stratospheric aerosol number densities, derived from extinction coefficients measured by the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II. A causal connection between the two time series is suggested. Further study of the cross‐correlation coefficient confirms this finding, indicating that cosmic rays influence stratospheric aerosols through a process with a time response of a few months. Our results have important implications for the hypothesis of a physical mechanism that links both quantities.