Forbush decreases – clouds relation in the neutron monitor era A. Dragić1, I. Aničin1, R. Banjanac1, V. Udovičić1, D. Joković1, D. Maletić1, and J. Puzović2 1Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, Belgrade, Serbia 2Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, Belgrade, Serbia
Received: 15 Nov 2010 – Revised: 15 Feb 2011 – Accepted: 23 Mar 2011 – Published: 31 Aug 2011
Abstract. The proposed influence of cosmic rays on cloud formation is tested
for the effect of sudden intensity changes of CR (Forbush
decreases) on cloudiness. An attempt is made to widen the investigated
period covered by satellite observation of cloudiness. As an
indicator of cloud cover, the diurnal temperature range (DTR - a
quantity anticorrelated with cloudiness) is used. The superposed
epoch analysis on a set of isolated Forbush decreases is conducted
and the results for a region of Europe are presented. The effect
of Forbush decrease on DTR is statistically significant only if
the analysis is restricted to high amplitude FDs (above the
threshold value of 7% with the respect to undisturbed CR
intensity). The magnitude of the effect on DTR is estimated to be
(0.38 ± 0.06) °C.
Citation: Dragić, A., Aničin, I., Banjanac, R., Udovičić, V., Joković, D., Maletić, D., and Puzović, J.: Forbush decreases – clouds relation in the neutron monitor era, Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 7, 315-318, doi:10.5194/astra-7-315-2011, 2011.