Sun tides: an unexplored astronomical approach to climate cycles and trends

Abstract

Numerical indices expressing the strength of postulated sun tides and dependent solar energy output were computed from the heliocentric positions and radius vectors of the major planets at 8 or 10 day intervals for the years 1855–1980 on the University of Oklahoma IBM 650; from which accordant Global Index and Northern Hemisphere Zonal Clear Sky Insolation Indices were derived. The resulting numerical series display very complex though orderly quasiperiodic variations. Cyclic recurrences appear in the index patterns at intervals of 118.5 days, the mean hemi-synodic period of Jupiter and Venus; 12 years, caused by the recurrent orientation and alignment of Jupiter, Venus, and Earth; and 59–60 and 83–84 years in which the outer planets and Mercury are also involved. The validity of the energy relation assumptions made in computing the index models is supported by: Adem, J., (1964), A positive r = 0.88968 SE 0.07698 correlation during the last solar cycle, 1954–1965, between the December–January Zonal Clear Sky Insolation Index for latitude 45° N and December–January normalized nucleon intensity monitored at 11,000 feet on Mt. Washington by Lockwood & Kaplan; Birot, Pierre, (1965) June and July precipitation 1900–1960 at White River, Ontario, Bismarck, North Dakota, and Edmonton, Canada, are also positively correlated with the May–June–July 7 planet index for 45° N Latitude.