Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The 11-Yr Solar Cycle in ERA-40 Data: An Update to 2008

Thomas H. A. Frame Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom

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Lesley J. Gray Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom

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Print Publication:
15 Apr 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JCLI3150.1
Page(s):
2213–2222
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Abstract

Multiple linear regression is used to diagnose the signal of the 11-yr solar cycle in zonal-mean zonal wind and temperature in the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) dataset. The results of previous studies are extended to 2008 using data from ECMWF operational analyses. This analysis confirms that the solar signal found in previous studies is distinct from that of volcanic aerosol forcing resulting from the eruptions of El Chichón and Mount Pinatubo, but it highlights the potential for confusion of the solar signal and lower-stratospheric temperature trends. A correction to an error that is present in previous results of Crooks and Gray, stemming from the use of a single daily analysis field rather than monthly averaged data, is also presented.

Corresponding author address: Thomas H. A. Frame, Dept. of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, P.O. Box 243, Reading, RG6 6BB, United Kingdom. Email: t.h.a.frame@reading.ac.uk

Abstract

Multiple linear regression is used to diagnose the signal of the 11-yr solar cycle in zonal-mean zonal wind and temperature in the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) dataset. The results of previous studies are extended to 2008 using data from ECMWF operational analyses. This analysis confirms that the solar signal found in previous studies is distinct from that of volcanic aerosol forcing resulting from the eruptions of El Chichón and Mount Pinatubo, but it highlights the potential for confusion of the solar signal and lower-stratospheric temperature trends. A correction to an error that is present in previous results of Crooks and Gray, stemming from the use of a single daily analysis field rather than monthly averaged data, is also presented.

Corresponding author address: Thomas H. A. Frame, Dept. of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, P.O. Box 243, Reading, RG6 6BB, United Kingdom. Email: t.h.a.frame@reading.ac.uk

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