Quiet sun, cold winter

2010/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Materialak
• Energia berriztagarriak

The physicists of the University of Reading (Great Britain) have concluded that when the sun has few spots the winters are colder than normal. For this purpose, data from the last 350 years in Britain have been analyzed and, in the years when solar activity is low, winters are 0.5°C cooler than average.

Researchers believe that the statistical relationship is "solid," but warn that there are exceptions. However, the possible relationship between both phenomena has also been commented, since when solar radiation weakens, the air flow from the Arctic to the tropics recedes and returns to the Atlantic. In this way, a spiral of air forms over Europe that prevents the entry of the humid wind that comes from the west, while opening the way to the cold and dry wind that comes from the northeast.

The results of the study have been published in the specialized journal Environmental Research Letters.