Posted on 02/08/2020 10:52:48 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
That fiery ball in space does settle down every 11 years or so. It’s called the solar minimum, and the Space Weather Prediction Center indicates that this phase of low sunspot activity will continue for a few more years.
During a solar minimum, the sun has very few sunspots on its surface, which some speculate could affect the earth’s weather. In contrast, a solar maximum has more sunspots on its surface and solar activity is high.
“Usually a solar minimum lasts about a year or so, but then sometimes it can last for decades or even longer,” said Prof. Jason Kendall, an adjunct professor of astronomy from William Paterson University, in an interview with NTD News. “And that has happened in history, and those would be called a grand solar minimum, when there’s a dearth, an absence of sunspots.”
NASA reports that a grand solar minimum could potentially lower the temperature by .3 degrees Celsius if it were to happen. Kendall said this number is far lower than the warming of the earth NASA attributes to human beings.
But Kendall said it’s hard to predict something like a grand solar minimum, considering that scientists don’t fully understand them to begin with. Despite that, some have gone as far as to speculate that a grand minimum could even lead to a mini ice age.
The last time earth experienced a grand solar minimum was in the 17th century. Astronomers like Galileo would study sunspots by projecting the sun’s image onto paper with the help of a telescope.
“Galileo made a series of sunspot drawing in the summer of 1612,” according to an introductory class to astronomy uploaded by Kendall. “The 36 drawings illustrate the motion of sunspots across the disk—which is actually a sequence showing the rotation of the sun.”
All of this was taught in school when I was a student.
I bet you weren’t taught that cow flatulence causes this.
I bet you weren’t taught that cow flatulence causes this.
Solar cycle 24 is now approaching minimum in April 2020. The Space Weather Prediction Center is not projecting an extended minimum. The next maximum is expected in July 2025. Go to their website and see.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/solar-cycle-25-forecast-update
Remember that real reason and facts and logic are NOT used by leftists.
Remember that Scientific Moron Algore pontificating “THE DEBATE IS OVER” - but then back he WAS setting himself up to make billions on a Carbon-Credit Exchange he helped organize that would have ADDED a whole ‘nuther layer of speculation middlemen to the entire economy.
They're forecasting a weak maximum.
If you understand this, go the next step to understand the sun’s 11 year polarity reversal that causes the solar max/min.
The look at the earth’s longer cycle of similar polarity reversals.
There is a much greater influence from external to these two bodies.
After all, our solar system is in a dynamic spiral galaxy.
That’s great news. We were on the Garden Thread and I started looking into what might be in store for the temps this coming growing season.
Cooler than normal, so some of us will need to plant shorter-season varieties of heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers.
Glad to hear cooler temps are not going to stick around for more than a year or so! :)
FYI. The next solar cycle officially started about a week ago with the appearance of new spots with an alternate magnetic field.
I’d like to point out that we have pretty good records of sunspot activity going back a thousand years thanks to the Chinese. It may even go back further than that, but I’d have to look it up again, and I am lazy.
But, but, but,.....this is the WORST because it’s on my cel phone.
(Sarcasm. Do I have to write that?)
Back to the 1600’s from Galileo, too. The graphic I posted of the 36 drawings are his. :)
Is that colby or cheddar?
Right. Galileo did good work. I was just pointing out that our records on this are even more extensive than that. This is one thing the Chinese have really done a fantastic job on, and one of the few records that were retained across dynasties.
It was taught to me too when I was in grade school through high school. There is a direct link between solar activity and the planets temperature. There is zero doubt about that unless one's a climate change hoaxxer.
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