American-Eurasian Journal of Scientific Research 10 (6): 345-351, 2015 ISSN 1818-6785 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejsr.2015.10.6.1160 Corresponding Author: A.I. Chima, Department of Industrial Physics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu, Nigeria. 345 The Effect of Cosmic Ray Flux on the Earth Atmospheric Temperature A.I. Chima, A.E. Umahi, A.C. Ugwoke and A.N. Nwobodo 1 2 1 1 Department of Industrial Physics, 1 Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria Department of Industrial Physics, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria 2 Abstract: A comparative investigation of the variations of cosmic ray flux and the variations of the average earth’s atmospheric temperature was carried out. Data for a period of six months were carried out and statistically analyzed. For each day of the month, the cosmic ray flux and average temperature were determine using excel sheet.A statistical analysis such as graph and histograph of the cosmic ray counts and the average earth’s atmospheric temperature were plotted against time for each of the month in the same sheet. The variations of the cosmic ray counts and the variation of the average earth’s atmospheric temperature were found to be in trend. Careful application of correlation texts were carried out between the variation of cosmic ray count and the variation of earth’s atmospheric temperature. The results shows a positive correlation coefficient values which implies that cosmic ray flux plays a significant role in the process of initiating temperature changes within the terrestrial atmosphere. The low correlation coefficient value in the results supports the argument that cosmic ray flux is not the only factor responsible for the production of earth’s atmospheric temperature variation in the earth’s atmosphere. Key words: Cosmic ray Atmosphere and Temperature INTRODUCTION caused by purely anthropogenic factors (man made) is Cosmic rays are high energy charged particles arguments suggest the possibility of a high natural ( 10 eV) originating from outer space that travel nearly climatic change. The authors of some papers state that the 16 with the speed of light (3.0x108m/s) and strike the earth’s global warming in the last century was unprecedented atmosphere from all directions of the terrestrial and during the last two millennia [5-8]. Further reports from extraterrestrial bodies (Sharma, 2008). They are the nuclei other authors seem to suggest the contrary [9-12]. of atoms ranging from the lightest to the heaviest The authors of the latter publications claim that the elements in the periodic table. Cosmic rays also include climate of the 20th century was not uniquely warm during high energy electrons, positrons and subatomic particles. the last millennium. Although Soon et al. [9] agrees that However, it has come to include other cosmic ray sources in some local areas the anthropogenic effect on the of energetic particles in space, including nuclei and climate may be quite substantial at the present time. Some electrons accelerated in association with energetic events authors [3 and 4] emphasized that the global warming of in the Milky Way galaxy and particles accelerated in the last century was favoured by the long-term growth of interplanetary space [1]. the solar activity. In this work, we have studied the Many scientists have previously discussed the influence of cosmic ray fluxes on the average temperature effects of solar activity variations on the Earth's in the Earth’s atmosphere from July - December 2011. atmosphere and its climatic change [2-4]. The problem became more acute since the last years due to the Data Analysis: The data for this work were downloaded global warming. The physical causes of this warming from the Mexican cosmic ray observatory center and (i.e temperature variations) are currently a subject of hot Center for Atmospheric Research CAR, National Space discussions. The popular view that the global warming is Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, Anyiba disputed by a growing number of opponents whose