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Cirrus clouds provide a significant radiative forcing on the Earth's climate system. This paper looks at the connection in space and time between monthly mean lightning activity observed from the Lightning Imaging Sensor on board the International Space Station, and the global monthly mean cirrus cloud cover obtained from the MERRA‐2 reanalysis product. The correlation coefficient between the global monthly mean cloud optical thickness of the cirrus clouds (clouds at altitudes above the 400 hPa pressure levels) with the monthly mean lightning flash counts is 0.84, implying that monthly mean lightning can explain 70% of monthly variability of the global high cloud optical thickness. In addition, lightning amount explains nearly 60% of the monthly mean global area coverage of cirrus clouds. Given these statistically significant connections between lightning and cirrus clouds, we propose using global lightning data as an additional tool for monitoring monthly variability of cirrus clouds. Plain Language Summary: Cirrus clouds are one of the most important components maintaining the Earth's radiation budget. They reflect shortwave radiation from the Sun while absorbing the longwave radiation from the Earth. The net cloud radiative forcing for cirrus clouds results a warming of the climate. More/less cirrus clouds result in more/less warming of the planet. The moisture for the formation of cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere is transported there in large part via deep convective storms, many associated with lightning activity and hence defined as thunderstorms. An increasing in cirrus clouds in a warmer atmosphere will amplify the initial warming. We explored in this study the relationship between global cirrus cloud coverage and global lightning activity. The results of the research show that 60%–70% of the monthly variability in global cirrus clouds can be explained by mean global lightning activity. Key Points: Cirrus clouds are one of the essential components in the atmosphere, with many important feedbacks on the radiation balance of EarthMonthly mean lightning can explain 70% of the monthly variability of the global high cloud optical thicknessLightning explains nearly 60% of the monthly mean global area coverage of cirrus clouds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orbital Earth Radiation Budget measurement comparisons to models, are critical for climate prediction confidence. Satellite systems must reduce calibration drifts for this purpose. NASA Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) measures Earth albedo reductions that if correct, would increase solar forcing and suggest greater sunlight absorption is driving much of recent temperature increases. Such results are presented, alongside those from the Moon and Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (MERBE). MERBE uses constant lunar reflectivity for tracking and compensation of instrument telescope degradation, undetectable by CERES. MERBE finds Earth albedo constant compared to that of the Moon, because Arctic solar warming effects are balanced by solar cooling elsewhere, likely due to negative feedbacks. Contrary to NASA, this shows the Sun is not increasing warming and that CERES results are not as stable as claimed and assumed. Furthermore, MERBE can actually resolve Cloud Radiative Forcing (CRF) signals from the existing record, rather than in decades with official observations. Plain Language Summary: In contrast to NASA Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System results, this paper shows that the Earth reflectivity has not changed since the year 2000, by comparing the sunlight bouncing off it to that from the Moon. Disagreeing with NASA, this provides physical evidence that global warming is not being increased by the Sun. It also immediately brings data to the standard requested by the climate community for cloud forcing/feedback signal detection. The Moon and Earth Radiation Budget Experiment data is being staged for free on the FAIR compliant website Pangaea for climate scientists. Key Points: The Sun is not causing climate change and Cloud Radiative Forcing (CRF) signals can now be detected immediatelyArctic heating is being balanced by reflectivity increases elsewhereThe calibration accuracy of data is sufficient to detect uncertain cloud feedback signals immediately, rather than in decades [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]