We consider satellite time series concerning the atmospheric aerosol content. We prove that these time series are well described by a stochastic dynamical model. The principal peak in the power spectrum of these signals can be explained by stochastic resonance, linking variable external factors, such as Sun-Earth radiation budget and local insolation, to fluctuations on smaller spatial and temporal scale due to internal weather and antrophic components.

• Received 28 January 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.128501