The Total Solar Irradiance Correlation12.013.014.015.016.017.018.0189319031913192319331943195319631973198319932003Annual
One thing I believe is that the Earth is a very sensitive thermometer to changes in the Sun. The US rural data set shows a good correlation with minute changes in Total Solar Irradiance in watts per square meter, suggesting that the Earth is indeed a very sensitive thermometer. This is the Total Solar Irradiance from the Hoyt and Schatten reconstruction, with eleven year smoothing, less 1350 watts per square metre.
The peak US temperature was in 1936, at much the same time that Total Solar Irradiance peaked. If you have wondered why US temperatures are still lower than what they were 70 years ago, the fact that Total Solar Irradiance is lower than what it was 70 years ago might provide an explanation.
Correlation does not necessarily mean causation though, and we will progress on to far better solar – temperature correlations.
