dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaBeam Measurements of a CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) Chamber
| Authors | Jasper Kirkby |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0104041 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0104041 |
Abstract
A striking correlation has recently been observed between global cloud cover and the flux of incident cosmic rays. The effect of natural variations in the cosmic ray flux is large, causing estimated changes in the Earth's energy radiation balance that are comparable to those attributed to greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. However a direct link between cosmic rays and cloud formation has not been unambiguously established. We therefore propose to experimentally measure cloud (water droplet) formation under controlled conditions in a test beam at CERN with a CLOUD chamber, duplicating the conditions prevailing in the troposphere. These data, which have never been previously obtained, will allow a detailed understanding of the possible effects of cosmic rays on clouds and confirm, or otherwise, a direct link between cosmic rays, global cloud cover and the Earth's climate. The measurements will, in turn, allow more reliable calculations to be made of the residual effect on global temperatures of the burning of fossil fuels, an issue of profound importance to society. Furthermore, light radio-isotope records indicate a correlation has existed between global climate and the cosmic ray flux extending back over the present inter-glacial and perhaps earlier. This suggests it may eventually become possible to make long-term (10-1,000 year) predictions of changes in the Earth's climate, provided a deeper understanding can be achieved of the ``geomagnetic climate'' of the Sun and Earth that modulates the cosmic-ray flux.
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"abstract": "A striking correlation has recently been observed between global cloud cover\nand the flux of incident cosmic rays. The effect of natural variations in the\ncosmic ray flux is large, causing estimated changes in the Earth\u0027s energy\nradiation balance that are comparable to those attributed to greenhouse gases\nfrom the burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. However a\ndirect link between cosmic rays and cloud formation has not been unambiguously\nestablished. We therefore propose to experimentally measure cloud (water\ndroplet) formation under controlled conditions in a test beam at CERN with a\nCLOUD chamber, duplicating the conditions prevailing in the troposphere. These\ndata, which have never been previously obtained, will allow a detailed\nunderstanding of the possible effects of cosmic rays on clouds and confirm, or\notherwise, a direct link between cosmic rays, global cloud cover and the\nEarth\u0027s climate. The measurements will, in turn, allow more reliable\ncalculations to be made of the residual effect on global temperatures of the\nburning of fossil fuels, an issue of profound importance to society.\nFurthermore, light radio-isotope records indicate a correlation has existed\nbetween global climate and the cosmic ray flux extending back over the present\ninter-glacial and perhaps earlier. This suggests it may eventually become\npossible to make long-term (10-1,000 year) predictions of changes in the\nEarth\u0027s climate, provided a deeper understanding can be achieved of the\n``geomagnetic climate\u0027\u0027 of the Sun and Earth that modulates the cosmic-ray\nflux.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0104041",
"authors": [
"Jasper Kirkby"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ao-ph",
"hep-ex",
"physics.geo-ph",
"physics.space-ph"
],
"title": "Beam Measurements of a CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) Chamber",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0104041"
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