About this Research Topic

Background

Evidence from observations and paleoclimate records suggest that solar outputs, including solar irradiance and energy particles, belong to the fundamental natural forces of the climate system. It is consistent that the variation of solar irradiance on the orbital time scale controls glacial interglacial cycle. However, the contribution of solar output fluctuation due to solar activity to decadal to centennial climate change is still contradictory. The common driving force mechanism is then the key role of solar-climate linking research, and the mechanism of solar forcing and the pathway of amplification could be two key scientific problems in climate research.

In recent years, a lot of studies have been done on the effects of solar activity on the climate, based on data analysis by observation/reanalysis or mechanism tracking by modeling. The interannual and decadal solar signals in the regional climate were found and the hypothesis of driving mechanisms was proposed. Meanwhile, the potential contribution of solar variability to the current climate prediction has attracted more and more attention. The purpose of this topic is to collect and reveal new results and new understandings about the impact of solar variability on climate.

This research topic will collect comprehensive review papers and research articles of any scientific work and fundamental study for “Impact of solar activity on climate”. It will cover topics that include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Possible mechanisms of solar activity impacting on the low atmosphere;
• Influence of solar activity (particle flux) on atmospheric electric field and its climate effect;
• Influence of solar activity on monsoon activity;
• Modulation of solar activity on ENSO and its climate effect;
• Solar activity and interdecadal climate change;
• Solar activity and stratosphere-troposphere coupling process.

Keywords: solar activity, energetic particle precipitation and cosmic ray, climate change, climate system response, monsoon and ENSO, stratosphere-troposphere coupling, atmospheric electric field

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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