Department of Physics, University College, Thiruvananthapuram (India)

Email of Corresponding Author :princerprasad@gmail.com

Sun is a variable star showing a great variety of non-stationary active processes. Such non-stationary and non-equilibrium processes (solar activity) can lead to sporadic acceleration of energetic particles with greatly enhanced flux (solar wind). These processes modify the radiation environment of Earth and cause strong geomagnetic storms through coupling of solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. This may lead to aurorae and large electric currents that can disrupt communication, power grids and satellite navigation. During active times, Sun’s energy output is irregular and highly explosive. Earth’s climate is also influenced by solar activity variations. Sea surface temperature is a well known parameter relating to climate change. It can influence air on the near shore atmosphere and its variations can modify Earth’s climatein a highly complex way. Present study analyzes sea surface temperature and solar activity variations, in order to find out the presence of solar activity related periodicities in sea surface temperature.Wavelet analysis of global, northern and southern sea surface temperature time series and various solar activity indices were carried out. Major long-term periodicity found common in global, northern and southern sea surface temperature is 17.9 years. Southern hemisphere sea surface temperature variation is shown mainly to follow variations in sunspot activity. However, global sea surface temperature and northern hemisphere sea surface temperature variations are more influenced by asymmetry in the polar magnetic field of the Sun.