The Hockey Schtick has the relevant information
What may be the science story of the century is breaking this evening, as heavyweight US solar physicists announce that the Sun appears to be headed into a lengthy spell of low activity, which could mean that the Earth – far from facing a global warming problem – is actually headed into a mini Ice Age.
The announcement made on 14 June (18:00 UK time) comes from scientists at the US National Solar Observatory (NSO) and US Air Force Research Laboratory. Three different analyses of the Sun’s recent behaviour all indicate that a period of unusually low solar activity may be about to begin.
The Sun normally follows an 11-year cycle of activity. The current cycle, Cycle 24, is now supposed to be ramping up towards maximum strength. Increased numbers of sunspots and other indications ought to be happening: but in fact results so far are most disappointing. Scientists at the NSO now suspect, based on data showing decades-long trends leading to this point, that Cycle 25 may not happen at all.
Go read the rest. And then there is this yawner from ABC News (via Tom Nelson)
Scientists are predicting that the sun is heading into an unusual and extended super quiet mode. Around 2020, sunspots may disappear for years, maybe decades.
But scientists say it is nothing to worry about. The effects from a calmer sun are mostly good. There’d be fewer disruptions of satellites and power systems. And it might mean a little less increase in global warming.
It’s happened before, but not for a couple centuries.
Scientists at a solar physics conference in New Mexico unveiled their prediction based on sunspot activity, magnetic field strength and a disappearing solar jet stream.
Nothing to see, move along…..wait, what? Let’s break that down, shall we?
- A calmer sun is what we had during the Little Ice Age. OK, great, few disruptions. Except for the pesky snow and ice continuously downing lines, and cloudy skies causing transmission problems. As for less global warming, sure, while it snows in July.
- Yeah, it happened before. Funny how the phrase “Little Ice Age” is not mentioned, nor that it lasted for around 500 years.
- Everything in that last paragraph leads to less solar wind, which leads to more cosmic rays impacting the Earth, which means more cloud formation, which leads to cooler temperatures.
Welcome to f*cking science, believers. Though, we do have to wait to see if it actually happens, of course.
