Do Sunspots Affect Climate?

Ultraviolet radiation increases dramatically during high sunspot activity

, which can have a large effect on the Earth's atmosphere. ... But overall when examining Earth on a global scale, and over long periods of time, it is certain that the solar energy output does have an affect on Earth's climate.

Do sunspots make Earth warmer or cooler?

Sunspots have been observed continuously since 1609, although their cyclical variation was not noticed until much later. At the peak of the cycle, about 0.1% more Solar energy reaches the Earth, which can increase global average temperatures by 0.05-0.1℃. This is small, but it can be detected in the climate record.

Can sunspots cause climate change?

The peaks and valleys in solar geomagnetic activity since 1900, based on the number of sunspots observed on the face of the Sun each day (orange dots). The Sun's activity increased in the early half of the twentieth century, but it can't be responsible for warming over the past 50 years.