Total solar irradiance satellite composites and their phenomenological effect on climate

This paper discusses and proposes updated satellite composites of the total solar irradiance covering the period 1978???2008. The composites are compiled from measurements made with the three ACRIM experiments and measurements from the NIMBUS7/ERB and the ERBS/ERBE satellite experiments are used to fill the gap from June 1989 to October 1991 between ACRIM1 and ACRIM2 experiments. The climate implications of the alternative satellite composites are discussed by using a phenomenological climate model. This model reconstructs the total solar irradiance signature on climate during the last four centuries. On average, solar variations may have been responsible for at least 50% of the warming observed since 1970 and about 80% since the Maunder solar minimum occurred in the 17th century.