Insolation and Global Surface Temperature, 1978-2009. NOAA/NCDC; Frölich and Lean; Willson and Mordvinov; Dewitte et al.

The Sun’s energy received at the top of Earth’s atmosphere has been measured by satellites since 1978. It has followed its natural 11-year cycle of small ups and downs, but with no net increase (bottom). Over the same period, global temperature has risen markedly (top).

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States [pdf]