As a non-scientist, I need someone to explain in layman’s terms what this all means. Specifically, (1) what are the implications - if any - for telecommunications systems and the power grid; and (2) what are the implications - if any - for global warming/cooling trends?
Lower sunspots means less chance of solar disruption to the power grid. Although I would think that even in a period of low sunspots there is still the rare chance of a disruptive solar flare.
And low sunspots is associated with less energy coming from the sun, energy that warms the earth. So temperatures will probably go down. I imagine there are other factors (one NOT being mankind’s emissions of “global warming gases”).
The last long-term period of low sunspot numbers had low temperatures, “the year without summer”, poor crop yields, etc. Of course that might stress the grid with everyone plugging in their electric heaters. Seriously.
If one looks at the VERY long term (not hundreds, but thousands of years), I predict that we may very well be approaching an honest to goodness, mile-thick ice over Seattle Ice Age.
Low sunspots means less ionization of the D, E, F1 and F2 ionization belts around the earth...resulting in poor or non existant long distance radio communication.
Seems to me this is good timing for the Obamacons....since radio communication between patriots is cut off.
For more details see AARL General Ham Radio license manual. ARRL at www.arrl.org