Alternative theory - the effect of cosmic rays on cloud formation
One alternative theory is that the climate is governed by atomic particles coming from exploded stars. The Danish National Space Centre in Copenhagen insists there is a possible link between the influences of cosmic rays on the earth's climate and cloud formation.
Cosmic rays are high-speed atomic particles originating in exploded stars far away in the Milky Way, and when they penetrate the earth's atmosphere they produce substantial amounts of ions and release free electrons.1 Cloud cover increases when the intensity of cosmic rays grows, and decreases when the intensity declines.
With high cosmic ray intensities, cold conditions ensue due to the formation building blocks for cloud condensation nuclei, on which water vapour condenses to make clouds. Yet cosmic ray intensities, and therefore cloudiness, keep changing because the sun's magnetic field varies in its ability to repel cosmic rays coming from the galaxy, before they can reach the earth.
You can see a diagramatic representation of this theory by visiting the Danish National Space Centre website.
More information
- Read more about this theory at:
http://www.spacecenter.dk/research/sun-climate/other/getting-closer-to-the-cosmic-connection-to-climate - Find out more about the science of 'cosmoclimatology' at:
http://www.spacecenter.dk/research/sun-climate/cosmoclimatology/a-brief-summary-on-cosmoclimatology
The lead scientists acknowledge the important role that CO2 plays in the changing climate, 'but the climate is an incredibly complex system, and it is unlikely we have a full overview over which factors play a part and how important each is in a given circumstance' they say.
Challenges to this theory
The theory described above has been challenged by other climate scientists, who claim that cosmic rays are unrelated to cloud formation. Find out more about why researchers do not agree with this theory at http://www.newscientist.com/blog/environment/2008/04/sunset-on-cosmic-rays-theory.html and http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12234.
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1Danish National Space Center:
http://www.spacecenter.dk/research/sun-climate/other/getting-closer-to-the-cosmic-connection-to-climate