"There are convincing hypotheses that connect the variation in Earth's
average temperature with changes in the Sun. The "solar wind", a stream of
high-energy electrons and protons emitted by the Sun, causes many things,
including: geomagnetic storms that knock out power grids on Earth, auroras,
and can even influence the formation of distant stars. According to this
hypothesis, the solar wind also affects Earth's climate. Changes in the
solar wind over recent years may account for the changes in Earth's
climate."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...page_id=181 1