Beijing time April 2 news, when we think about the sun's influence on the earth's climate, we usually think of solar radiation. We are very aware of the pain caused by ultraviolet radiation to burn the skin. Although the sun provides energy for life on earth, potential dangers seem to be everywhere. The sun is an active star, constantly releasing the so-called " solar wind "-charged particles mainly composed of protons and electrons, ejected at a speed of hundreds of kilometers per second.
Some charged particles enter the polar atmosphere of the earth under the guidance of the earth's magnetic field, so we can see the mysterious and beautiful southern aurora in the southern hemisphere and the northern lights in the northern hemisphere. This visible solar particle entering the earth’s atmosphere is a characteristic phenomenon. But it's not just about emitting light, the charged particles released by the sun also have other effects.
▲ The earth’s magnetic field protects us from the solar wind and guides solar particles to the polar regions
Sun particles and earth ozone
When the sun particles enter the earth’s atmosphere, the high energy of the sun particles ionizes The neutral nitrogen and oxygen molecules of the earth’s atmosphere, these two molecules account for 99% of the earth’s atmosphere. The solar particle is also called "high-energy particle rain", named after it resembles the particle rain from space. It is the earth's polar region_ The main source of atmospheric ionization in areas above 30 kilometers above span2span, it will trigger a series of reactions and produce chemicals that promote the destruction of ozone.
It is reported that the influence of solar particles on the ozone of the earth’s atmosphere was first observed in 1969. Since the beginning of the 21st century, based on the new observation satellites launched one after another, scientists have more and more evidence that solar particles are influencing Polar ozone plays an important role. When solar activity is particularly active,When the sun releases a large number of particles into space, as much as 60% of the ozone in areas above 50 kilometers above sea level will be depleted, and the effect may last for several weeks.
At a lower position in the Earth’s atmosphere, about 50 kilometers from the Earth’s surface, solar particles are an important factor that causes the polar ozone levels to change year by year. Solar particle attacks will continue to cause ozone loss. However, the most recent one Studies have shown that solar particles can also help prevent further depletion of Antarctic ozone space.
How does ozone affect the earth’s climate
Earth Atmosphere Most of the ozone in the earth’s surface is located in a thin layer 20-25 kilometers away from the earth’s surface-" ozone layer", but ozone is everywhere in the atmosphere From the surface of the earth to above 100 kilometers above sea level, it is a greenhouse gas that plays a key role in heating and cooling the atmosphere, which makes it vital to the climate system. In the southern hemisphere, changes in polar ozone will affect the regional climate condition.
▲ Recently, a chartered plane taking off from New Zealand captured the southern lights from the air. Compared with the northern lights in the northern hemisphere, they were photographed less often
Ozone depletion over Antarctica produced The cooling effect, on the contrary, promotes the westerly jet that surrounds Antarctica. With the gradual recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole, the westerly jet will wind further north, affecting rainfall patterns, ocean surface temperature and ocean currents. The South Loop model describes the wind belt surrounding Antarctica. State of movement from north to south.
Ozone is very important for future climate prediction. It not only exists in the thin ozone layer, but it is also important to understand the factors affecting ozone changes from the entire atmosphere, whether it is human factors or natural factors like the sun.
▲ The solar particles ionize nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere, leading to other chemical reactions that destroy the ozone layer.
The direct impact of the sun
The connection between solar particles and ozone is very clear ,But what direct impact will the sun's grains have on the climate? We have observational evidence that solar activity affects climate change in the polar regions of the earth, and climate models also show that this polar effect is related to larger climate patterns (such as the northern and southern ring patterns) and affects the geographical conditions of mid-latitude regions.
The specific and detailed impact of the sun on the earth is not yet clear, but the impact of solar particles on the climate system will be included for the first time in the climate simulations evaluated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Through solar radiation and particle action, the sun provides a key energy input for our climate system. Although the solar magnetic field has an activity period of 11 years, they cannot explain the recent rapid rise in global temperature caused by climate change.
We know that the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is causing the earth’s surface temperature to rise (physicists have known this climate trend in the 19th century). At the same time, we also understand that human activities promote the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases. The combination of these factors will explain the current global temperature increase we are observing.
How do solar particles affect clouds?
Clouds are located at the lower end of the atmosphere, much lower than most solar particles penetrate the atmosphere. Solar particles are called interstellar rays, and they may be closely related to cloud formation.
Experts once believed that cosmic ray can affect the form of condensation nuclei, which is equivalent to the "seed" of clouds. However, recent CERN research has shown that this effect is negligible and does not Will play an important role in cloud formation. However, the study did not rule out other mechanisms by which cosmic rays affect cloud formation, but so far no relevant evidence has been found to support it.
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