Correlation analysis between the Aerosol Optical Depth and Cosmic Rays

Abstract

In this study, aerosol optical depth (AOD870 nm) data, for the period between 1999 to 2015 obtained from the solar village AERONET site (central Saudi Arabia); have been correlated with cosmic ray (CR) data from Oulu neutron monitor. Positive and significant correlation between the two variables has been found. Moreover, power spectral analyses using the Fourier Transform (FT) technique have been carried out to investigate the periodicities in both the CR and AOD time series. Several common periodicities between the two variables have been recognized indicating possible mutual relation between variations of aerosols and of CR intensity observed on the ground.