Has Solar Cycle 24 even started yet?
Well, not really. We are still at zero-two spots per month.
If you were a real scientist you'd understand that such a simple, direct question is clear evidence that you don't comprehend the complexity of the analysis required to interpret the validity of the datastream or the statistical boundaries involved in the proper assessment of the relevent domains.
Next question.
Yep, it started, we are in it now, but so far almost a total absence of sun spot activity is all they have to work with. A new cycle starts every 11 years, the spots go up to a peak and then back down to a minimum(varies cycle to cycle)and during the Maunder Minimum there was very little sun spot activity, which coincided with the start of the little ice age.