Abstract
An analysis of the periodicities found in the Nimbus-7 satellite measurements of solar irradiance (Solar Constant) indicates variations on three scales. Two of these variations are shown to be related to variations in solar activity as given by various indicators of solar photosphere disturbances. The high frequency periodicity is due to the solar rotation period. The second periodicity is based on the integral effect of the high frequency oscillation over an 11 year solar cycle. The third variation (secular trend) is discussed in regard to the high precision cavity data and the recent record of high altitude solar constant measurements.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brusa, R. W. and Fröhlich, C.: 1980,Monitoring the Solar Constant from High Altitude Balloons, Proceedings of the International Radiation Symposium, August 11–16, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 416–418.
Duncan, C. H.: 1980,Report of Third Rocket Flight, Internal Memo, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Greenbelt, MD, 7 pp.
Eddy, J. A., Hoyt, D. B., and White, O. R.: 1982,Reconstructed Values of the Solar Constant from 1874 to the Present. Extended Abstract Volume of the Symposium on the Solar Constant and the Spectral Distribution of Solar Irradiance, IAMAP Third Scientific Assembly, Edited by J. London and C. Fröhlich, Printed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, pp. 29–34.
Fröhlich, C.: 1977, ‘Contemporary Measures of the Solar Constant’, in O. R. White (ed.),The Solar Output and Its Variation, Associated University Press, Boulder, CO, pp. 93–109.
Hansen, J. E.: 1981,Rationale and Strategy for Monitoring Solar Irradiance. Internal NASA Memorandum, NASA-Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, 9 pp.
Hickey, J. R.: 1980a,SEFDT Analysis: November '78 – March '79 Data Set. Technical Memo, September 26, Eppley Laboratory Inc., Newport, RI, 40 pp.
Hickey, J. R.: 1980b,Update of Solar Data from Channel 10-C, Technical Memo, December 1, Eppley Laboratory, Inc., Newport, RI, 8 pp.
Hickey, J. R., Stowe, L. L., Jacobowitz, H., Pellegrino, P., Maschhoff, R. H., Gouse, F., and Vonder Haar, T.H.: 1980a, ‘Initial Solar Irradiance Determination from Nimbus-7 Cavity Radiometer Measurements’,Science 208, 281–283.
Hickey, J. R., Griffin, F., Jacobowitz, H., Stowe, L., Pellegrino, P., and Maschhoff, R.: 1980b, ‘Comments on Solar Constant Measurements from Nimbus 6 and 7.EOS Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 61, 17, SS-50.
Hickey, J. R., Griffin, F., Alton, B., Jacobowitz, H., Stowe, L., Pellegrino, P., and Maschhoff, R.: 1980c,Solar Parameter Measurements from Nimbus Satellites and Other Solar Constant Experiments. Presented at the 1980 International Radiation Symposium, August 11–16, Fort Collins, CO, pp. 343–345.
Hickey, J. R., Griffin, F. J., Alton, B. M., Jacobowitz, H., Stowe, L. L., Pellegrino, P., Maschhoff, R. H., House, F. B., Smith, E. A., and Vonder Haar, T. H.: 1981,Review of Solar Irradiance Measurements from Nimbus 6 and 7. Results of Symposium, the Fifth International Pyrheliometric Comparison and Absolute Radiometer Comparisons (IPC-V), Working Report No. 194, 9 Sept.–12 Oct. 1980, World Radiation Center-Davos, Published by Swiss Meteorological Institute, Zurich, Switzerland, 17–20.
Hickey, J. R., Alton, B. M., Griffin, F. J., Jacobowitz, H., Pellegrino, P., Smith, E. A., and Vonder Haar, T. H.: 1982a,Solar Variability Indications from Nimbus 7 Satellite Data. Proceedings of the Goddard Workshop on Solar Variability, NASA CP2191, November 1980, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD, pp. 59–72.
Hickey, J. R., Alton, B. M., Griffin, F. J., Jacobowitz, H., Pellegrino, P., and Smith, E. A.: 1982b,Observations of the Solar Constant and Its Variations-Emphasis on Nimbus 7 Results. Extended Abstract Volume of the Symposium on the Solar Constant and the Spectral Distribution of Solar Irradiance, IAMAP Third Scientific Assembly, Edited by J. London and C. Fröhlich, Printed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, pp. 10–17.
Jacobowitz, H., Stowe, L. L., and Hickey, J. R.: 1978,The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment. The Nimbus 7 User's Guide, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Greenbelt, MD, pp. 33–68.
Kellogg, W. W. and Schneider, S. H.: 1974, ‘Climate Stabilization - for Better or for Worse’,Science 186, 1163.
Plamondon, J. A. and Kendall, J. M.: 1969, ‘Analysis of the Mariner Temperature Controlled Flux Monitor Measurements of the Sun’,JPL Space Program Summary 3, 162.
Sheeley, N. R. and Harvey, J. W.: 1981, ‘Coronal Holes, Solar Wind Streams, and Geomagnetic Disturbances During 1978 and 1979’,Solar Physics 70, 237–249.
Siegel, S. H.: 1973,Determination of Sun Orientation on Nimbus F. Program Information Request, General Electric Space Division, Philadelphia, PA, 12 pp.
Smith, E. A. and Hickey, J. R.: 1981,Solar Variability Analysis Using Nimbus 7 ERB Results. Results of Symposium, The Fifth International Pyrheliometric Comparisons and Absolute Radiometer Comparisons (IPC-V), Working Report No. 194, 29 September–17 October 1980, World Radiation Center-Davos, Published by Swiss Meteorological Institute, Zurich, Switzerland, pp. 37–39.
Vonder Haar, T. H.: 1968,Variations of the Earth's Radiation Budget. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 77 pp.
Vonder Haar, T. H., Campbell, G. G., Smith, E. A., Arking, A., Coulson, K., Hickey, J., House, F., Ingersoll, A., Jacobowitz, A., Smith, L., and Stowe, L.: 1981, ‘Measurements of the Earth Radiation Budget from Satellites During the First GARP Global Experiment’,Adv. Space Res. 1, 285–297.
Willson, R. C., Gulkis, S., Janssen, M., Hudson, H. S., and Chapman, G. A.: 1981, ‘Observations of Solar Irradiance Variability’,Science 211, 700–702.
Willson, R. C.: 1982,Observations of Solar Total Irradiance Variations in Rocket and Satellite Measurements. Extended Abstract Volume of the Symposium on the Solar Constant and the Spectral Distribution of Solar Irradiance, IAMAP Third Scientific Assembly, Edited by J. London and C. Fröhlich, Printed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, pp. 3–9.
Zirker, J. B.: 1977,Coronal Holes and High Speed Wind Streams. C. U. Associated University Press, Boulder, CO, 454 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, E.A., Vonder Haar, T.H., Hickey, J.R. et al. The nature of the short period fluctuations in solar irradiance received by the earth. Climatic Change 5, 211–235 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02423519
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02423519