I’m no scientist but people who are say there’s a connection between solar activity & the lack of sunspots and earthquakes & volcanoes, etc. Some links (there are many articles):
https://www.heartmath.org/gci-commentaries/the-connection-between-solar-activity-volcanic-eruptions-and-earthquakes-weather-and-cycles-on-earth/
http://www.almanac.com/content/space-weather-sunspot-numbers-and-solar-activity
https://churchofthecosmos.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/the-connection-between-solar-activity-volcanic-eruptions-and-earthquakes-weather-and-cycles-on-earth/
https://astronomynow.com/2015/07/17/diminishing-solar-activity-may-bring-new-ice-age-by-2030/
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/08/can-solar-activity-cause-earthquakes-volcanoes-and-extreme-weather.html
Thanks for the links - looks like some interesting reading ahead ...