Cosmic ray modulation of infra-red radiation in the atmosphere
Data(s) |
2013
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Resumo |
Cosmic rays produce molecular cluster ions as they pass through the lower atmosphere. Neutral molecular clusters such as dimers and complexes are expected to make a small contribution to the radiative balance, but atmospheric absorption by charged clusters has not hitherto been observed. In an atmospheric experiment, a narrowband thermopile filter radiometer centred on 9.15 {\mu}m, an absorption band previously associated with infra-red absorption of molecular cluster ions, was used to monitor changes following events identified by a cosmic ray telescope sensitive to high-energy (>400 MeV) particles, principally muons. The average change in longwave radiation in this absorption band due to molecular cluster ions is 7 mWm sup{-2}. The integrated atmospheric energy density for each event is 2 Jm sup{-2}, representing an amplification factor of 10 sup{12} compared to the estimated energy density of a typical air shower. This absorption is expected to occur continuously and globally, but calculations suggest that it has only a small effect on climate. |
Formato |
text |
Identificador |
http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/31720/1/290_Aplin_Lockwood_ERL.pdf Aplin, K. L. and Lockwood, M. <http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/view/creators/90001127.html> (2013) Cosmic ray modulation of infra-red radiation in the atmosphere. Environmental Research Letters, 8 (1). 015026. ISSN 1748-9326 doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015026 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015026> |
Idioma(s) |
en |
Publicador |
Institute of Physics |
Relação |
http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/31720/ creatorInternal Lockwood, Mike http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015026 10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015026 |
Direitos |
cc_by_nc_sa |
Tipo |
Article PeerReviewed |