  | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
   
   
    | q | 
    Since the
    late 1970s, satellite instruments have observed small 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
    oscillations
    due to the 11-year solar cycle. Mechanisms for the 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
     | 
    amplification
    of solar effects on climate have been proposed, 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
    but
    currently lack a rigorous theoretical or observational basis. 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
    | q | 
    Stratospheric
    aerosols from explosive volcanic eruptions lead to 
     | 
   
   
     | 
    negative
    forcing, which lasts a few
    years. Several major 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
     | 
    eruptions
    occurred in the periods 1880 to 1920 and 1960 to 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
    1991. 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
    | q | 
    The
    combined change in radiative forcing of the two major 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
    natural
    factors (solar variation and volcanic aerosols) is 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
     | 
    estimated
    to be negative for the past two, and possibly the past 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
    four,
    decades. 
     | 
     |