Solar irradiance variability during solar cycles 21 and 22

Total solar irradiance observations by the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM) on the Solar Maximum Mission, the Nimbus 7/Earth Radiation Budget (ERB), the NASA/Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), and NOAA 9/Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) are combined to demonstrate the characteristics of the variation of solar luminosity over the solar cycles 21 and 22 between 1978 and 1990. Observations of solar Lyman Alpha and 10.7 MHz fluxes are used to demonstrate a total irradiance variability asymmetry relative to the maximum of solar activity.