Connection between Rainfall and Solar Activity Features during Solar Cycle 20 to 24

Abstract

This study examines the statistical relationship between all-India homogenous rainfall (RF) and different Solar Activity Features (SAF) - Sunspot Number (SN), Solar Active Prominence (SAP) and Solar Flare (SF) throughout five consecutive solar cycles (20 to 24) from 1964 to 2019. For all yearly and seasonal periods RF has a significant correlation coefficient with SAF (SN, SAP, SF). It shows a positive trend of RF from solar cycle 20 to 24. In various solar cycle phases, the RF exhibits distinct variability. We found two prominent periods of 2.5 year and 3.5 year for RF when studied the annual variation of RF over the period of 55 years (cycle 20-24) and other periods were ranging from 2 to 10 year. According to the RF normal probability distribution studied over 55 years, we found that 700-750 mm RF is most likely to occur. Our investigation concludes that RF variability is influenced by SAF incidence.