Difference between revisions of "Cosmic rays"

Revision as of 14:46, February 25, 2011

Cosmic rays are particles that bombard the Earth from outer space, such as:

Galactic Cosmic Rays -- coming from outside the solar system
Anomalous Cosmic Rays -- coming from the interstellar space at the edge of the heliopause
Solar Energetic Particles -- associated with solar flares and other energetic solar events

NASA says that, "... cosmic rays go up when solar activity goes down." [1]

The NIPCC says that, "GCR intensity is modulated by the strength of the solar wind and its magnetic field." [2]

... during the 20th century, the influx of cosmic rays was reduced by a doubling of the sun’s magnetic field which shields the Earth from cosmic rays. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220341,00.html

Cosmic rays vary the earth’s temperatures by creating more or fewer of the low, wet clouds that cool the earth.
Cosmic rays amplify small changes in the sun’s irradiance fourfold, creating 1-2 degree C cycles in earth’s temperatures. [3]

The term "cosmic rays" used to include X-rays and gamma rays.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 The NIPCC says that, "GCR intensity is modulated by the strength of the [[solar wind]] and its [[magnetic field]]." [http://www.sepp.org/publications/NIPCC_final.pdf]
-* ... during the 20th century, the influx of cosmic rays was reduced by a doubling of the sun’s magnetic field which shields the Earth from cosmic rays. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220341,00.html]
+* ... during the 20th century, the influx of cosmic rays was reduced by a doubling of the sun’s magnetic field which shields the Earth from cosmic rays. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220341,00.html
-Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220341,00.html#ixzz1EywRJfLA
 ==Effects on the earth's weather==