Variations of the cosmic rays as one of the possible links between the solar activity and the lower atmosphere

Effects of the solar and galactic cosmic ray variations on the large-scale circulation of the lower atmosphere have been investigated. The results obtained show that these effects do really exist both on the time scale of a few days and in the 11-year solar cycle. Thus, the variations of the cosmic rays, both solar and galactic, may be responsible for the changes in the large-scale atmospheric circulation associated with solar activity phenomena, the energy of cosmic particles being ∼0.1–1 GeV. A possible mechanism of the cosmic ray effects on the lower atmosphere involves changes in the atmospheric transparency and cloud cover due to the changes in the stratospheric ionization produced by the considered cosmic particles. Experimental evidence of the cosmic ray influence on the high-level cloud formation is provided.