Effects of cosmic rays on the Earth's environment

Cosmic rays are considered as a possible link coupling solar activity to atmospheric processes. The most intense types of cosmic ray flux modulations are briefly described as a source of variability in the ion production rate in the atmosphere. The ions may affect atmospheric phenomena through (1) charge-dependent chemical reactions, (2) charge-dependent droplet and ice crystal formation, and (3) as their influence on the current flowing in the global electric circuit. However, the latter two have still to be proved as the causes of correlations between changes in the large-scale meteorological parameters and cosmic ray flux variations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.