%0 Journal Article
%T Investigation of a Possible Link between Solar Activity and Climate Change in Saudi Arabia: Rainfall Patterns
%A Abdullrahman H. Maghrabi
%A Hadeel A. Alamoudi
%A Aied S. Alruhaili
%J Atmospheric and Climate Sciences
%P 478-490
%@ 2160-0422
%D 2023
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/acs.2023.134027
%X In this study, annual,
quarterly, and monthly mean precipitation data in Saudi Arabia were correlated
with sunspot number (SSN) and galactic cosmic ray (CR) flux over 35 years
(1985-2019). The results show that the strength, magnitude, proportion and
statistical significance of the relationship between precipitation and the two
variables varied by season and month. We find that mean annual precipitation in
Saudi Arabia, from May to November, and summer and autumn are correlated with
cosmic rays and inversely correlated with SSN. Correlations of varying
intensities and scales were found during the remaining months and during winter
and spring. The relationships between the rainfall and SSN and CR for each
solar cycle were </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">investigated</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> and showed that for all three cycles, the annual rainfall over Saudi
Arabia has a positive correlation with CR.</span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Different results were
obtained when the seasonal rainfall data correlated with the SSNs and CRs
during each cycle. The results obtained, in terms of their strength and
magnitude, are affected by terrestrial and extra-terrestrial factors. These
factors have been briefly presented and discussed.</span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">These findings represent a step towards understanding the possible role
of solar activity in climate change for future meteorological phenomenon
forecasting, even if the physical mechanism is still poorly quantified.
%K Precipitation
%K Cosmic Rays
%K Solar Activity
%K Climate Change
%K Sunspot
%K Saudi Arabia
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=128202