The last time the sun was this quiet, Earth experienced an ice age

9News ^ | 05/20/2020

[BenLurkin]

The last time this occurred was between 1650 and 1715, during what's known as the Little Ice Age in Earth's Northern Hemisphere...

Scientists have known this solar minimum was coming because it's a regular aspect of the sun's cycle. Sunspots were peaking in 2014, with low points beginning in 2019, according to NASA.

The sun is also responsible for what's known as space weather, sending particles and cosmic rays streaming across our solar system. The sun's strongly magnetised sunspots release solar flares, which can send X-rays and ultraviolet radiation hurtling toward Earth.

Even when the sun is quiet during the solar minimum, it can be active in other ways, like coronal holes that open in the sun's atmosphere and send out blazing streams of energised particles flying through the solar system on rapid solar wind.

Much like solar flares, these streams of particles during a solar minimum can disrupt the communication and GPS we rely on from satellites.

"We see these holes throughout the solar cycle, but during solar minimum, they can last for a long time — six months or more."

More highly energetic particles called galactic cosmic rays can reach Earth, specifically its upper atmosphere, during a solar minimum. These are created by explosions across our Milky Way galaxy, like supernovae.

"During solar minimum, the sun's magnetic field weakens and provides less shielding from these cosmic rays," Mr Pesnell said.

"This can pose an increased threat to astronauts traveling through space."

This solar minimum ends solar cycle 24. Early predictions estimated the peak of solar cycle 25 will occur in July 2025, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The solar cycle forecast is based on a NOAA and NASA co-chaired international panel. They agree that solar cycle 25 will be similar to cycle 24.

[KamperKen]

"Wasn’t there also some large volcanic eruptions contributing to the cooling?"

Volcanism seems to be inversely correlated with the sunspot cycle; as the sunspots decline, volcanic activity increases. The sulfur aerosols from the eruptions intensify the cooling effect further.

[Bernard Marx]

Many thanks for those links. They don't put me to sleep -- they energize me! I haven't had many truly original thoughts in my life but the likely linkage of cosmic rays and human evolutionary mutations hit me like a lightning bolt when I was a college freshman studying geology. I'm really glad to hear someone is actually working on the theory.

The work of the Japanese scientist is a breath of fresh air. It lends authoritative credibility to my own thinking about the scientific silliness of AGW. Is his book only available through the link you posted? I can't quite figure out how to order it since it's in German.

[The Great RJ]

So let me get this straight, increases in CO2 levels in the atmosphere of a few parts per million has six times the impact on the earth’s climate than a decrease in solar output which has historically caused what was known as the Little Ice Age. I say balderdash.

[Trillian]

Experts are the last people I would trust.

[infool7]

You're welcome

I have been very skeptical of chicken little "science" from

a very young age. My Mom's family was duped by a doomsday cult

when she was in her early teens so I was frequently warned

to watch for unscrupulous charlatans growing up.

Dr. Nakamura's kindle book was free with a sign up but

I bought it for .99¢ with some Amazon credit I had leftover

don't let the GermanJapanese scare you off most of it

is actually in English.

I think the light bulbs are coming on as this

the facade of fear comes crumbling down.

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