Solar activity and climate in Central America

Abstract

Possible effects of solar activity on the records of air surface temperature and rainfall in Central America are analysed. The correlation between the series of sunspot numbers, surface air temperature and precipitation, is poor. However an increasing tendency in the series is observed for the time period considered. Using Fourier analysis, frequency peaks were found close to 11 years and 5 years for both solar and climate data. This suggest that solar activity might be a factor which affects the climate’s variables.