Improved measurements of sun to advance understanding of climate change
Better satellite instruments are improving measurements of solar energy reaching Earth, scientists report in Geophysical Research Letters. Exactly determining the contribution of solar fluctuations to rising global temperature is expected to become possible as new instruments, such as the Total Irradiance Monitor above, further refine solar measurements. The device is scheduled to launch next month on NASA's Glory spacecraft. Credit: NASA
Scientists have taken a major step toward accurately determining the amount of energy that the sun provides to Earth, and how variations in that energy may contribute to climate change.
In a new study of laboratory and satellite data, researchers report a lower value of that energy, known as total solar irradiance, than previously measured and demonstrate that the satellite instrument that made the measurement—which has a new optical design and was calibrated in a new way—has significantly improved the accuracy and consistency of such measurements.
The new findings give confidence, the researchers say, that other, newer satellites expected to launch starting early this year will measure total solar irradiance with adequate repeatability – and with little enough uncertainty – to help resolve the long-standing question of how significant a contributor solar fluctuations are to the rising average global temperature of the planet.
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Lean specializes in the effects of the sun on climate and space weather. She said, "Scientists estimating Earth's climate sensitivities need accurate and stable solar irradiance records to know exactly how much warming to attribute to changes in the sun's output, versus anthropogenic or other natural forcings."
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-sun-advance-climate.html
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