AN EVALUATION OF SOLAR PROXIES FOR IRRADIANCE VARIATION

摘要

The problem of assessing the effects of solar irradiance variations on Earth's climate has become of increasing importance as evidence accumulates for global warming. Reliable observations of irradiance variation from space are available only for the past two solar cycles. Proxies must be used to estimate the irradiance variation before that time. We report on preliminary results of testing sunspot area as a relatively easily observed proxy against spatial observations of the irradiance variation. We discuss these early results and outline our plans for the remainder of the study.