Posted on 07/18/2008 12:21:24 PM PDT by jpl
As you can see in the new solar images, a new sunspot has formed. This one belongs to Cycle 23 because of its magnetic signature. This ends the streak of spotless days.
Yesterday in the EIT images there was a few areas of light that formed at high latitudes in both hemispheres. They both had Cycle 24 signatures, however have not developed into anything bigger.
Solar Flux section enhancement
(I) have enhanced the Flux section to include monthly averages as well as links to the daily flux numbers. Click HERE to view.
Also below is a link to some data which (I) compiled comparing the Solar Flux and Sunspot number predictions for the upcoming cycle Vs. the actual observed numbers effective January 2008.
Actually it is more a sign cycle 23 is continuing. It has cycle 23 polarity, not cycle 24. Until average of Cycle 24 sunspots exceeds cycle 23 spots, Cycle 24 has not started. It is very common to have spots from both cycles at same time, but official start of cycle 24 is not noted until the cycle 24 spots average (3 months I think) exceeds cycle 23 spots average.
What’s all that mean? Maybe the sun is causing some cyclical warming on the earth?
Not my SUV?
Seriously, what is going on? Thanks
It’s not easy to spot that spot.
but what does it meeeeean?
It’s not easy to spot that spot.
For one thing, radio signals could be affected.
seems to me the spot is a wayward lightning bug that wound up on the lense of the camera..:)
Obviously caused by gasoline-powered lawnmowers, we need to quickly institute a ban.
So just how did man caused C02 emissions cause this?
So, what will be the significance of entering cycle 24?
“What’s all that mean?”
Two months ago I had a long talk with a solar scientist. He said that with few sunspots, we may have a couple of years with slightly lower temperatures, then as the sunspots increase, the temperature will go back up.
Each solar cycle is about 11 years in length. What determines the cycle is the sunspots. The are very low in solar MINIMUM and very active (numerous) in solar MAXIMUM. Each cycle has its own ‘signature’. That is the spots have a specific polarity. Cycle 23 have one polarity and cycle 24 have the OPPOSITE polarity. That is why people who study the sun will say the sunspot currently visible is from CYCLE 23. It is because of the polarity of the spot. We have already had cycle 24 sunspots, but very, very few. Last month there was a small cluster of spots, but they were cycle 23 variety.
Cycle 24 does not really start until the smoothed average of visible spots for a speciifc period (3 months I believe) OUTNUMBER the average of cycle 23 spots during the same time. Right now, the majority of spots are still cycle 23 spots, not cycle 24.
As I understand it: more sunspots = less high level clouds = lower albedo for the Earth, and vice-versa.
Great. So, if we get more sunspots, the Envirowackos will have stop ignoring the facts and start ignoring the new facts?
Thank you!
Really the significance of entering cycle 24 is just that sunspots will become more numerous as we approach CYCLE 24 solar maximum. There are currently two forecast for cycle 24, one with a very active spot cycle, and one with a lower numbr of spots.
Some people believe a WEAK cycle and extended solar MINIMUMS cause the earth to cool. Some think that is nonsense. If cycle 24 is late arriving as it appears may be happening, the solar cycle/global warming hypothesis may be shown to be correct or incorrect. The last 70 years or so, the sun has been pretty active, now it appears to be less active. Time will tell.
Yes, you are correct. Some think less sunspots=more cosmic rays reaching atmosphere and forming more clouds, and thus keeping earth cooler.
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