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tree patterns show growth from cosmic rays

“The growth of British trees appears to follow a cosmic pattern, with trees growing faster when high levels of cosmic radiation arrive from space.”

Galactic/Cosmic rays are energy particles (made up of mostly protons, a few electrons, and some helium atom nuclei) that flow through “space”. The amount of cosmic rays that hit earth varies. The cosmic ray activities follow a 11-year cycle. Around every 11 years, our Sun becomes more “active” and creates a peak of sunspots. Sunspots create magnetic fields that slow or even stop the paths of cosmic rays. Data analyzed during low sunspot activity showed greater tree growth then data analyzed during the peak of sunspots.

“When the researchers looked at their data, they found that tree growth was highest during periods of low sunspot activity, when most cosmic rays reached Earth.”

“But growth slowed during the four periods of cosmic ray-blocking high sunspot activity, which have occurred between 1965 and 2005.”

So far there are two theories to why the research data shows cosmic rays help plant growth.

Some researchers have concluded that the cosmic rays ionize the gasses in our atmosphere, creating more molecules, thereby causing more “cloud cover”. Light/radiation that travels through cloud cover becomes defused. Defused light is absorbed easier by forest canopies then direct sunlight, which in turn would be the cause of the larger growth patterns.

The second theory is that the trees may directly benefit from the cosmic rays, but the reason is unknown to how or why.

Are you really afraid of a lil’ radiation?

Read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8311000/8311373.stm