Major drop in solar activity ahead, scientists say

[W2JTD]

Arrgh.
http://earthsky.org/space/major-drop-in-solar-activity-ahead-scientists-say

[WA1GFZ]

just means the end of the world is coming. Send me your money so I can get the word out.

[k4kyv]

They are already making predictions about Cycle 25? I remember a couple of years ago when even NASA was touting conclusive evidence that the current cycle would break all records, including that of Cycle 19 in 1957. Then speculation took an about-face and turned to the possibility of a new Maunder Minimum.

But the MM didn't happen. Sunspots began to return, although belatedly. Now, the Maunder Minimum really did happen after all, but it just won't become fully evident till Cycle 25.

Think maybe this guy had something to do with it?

[KA0HCP]

Q: How is a solar astronomer like a firefly?
A: They both brilliantly illuminate the immediate past.   

[flintstone mop]

More great conditions for the lower bands.

20M will be fun for a few hours a day and 10M will be like 6M...........magic

[Blaine N1GTU]

makes for some great local ragchewin'

[flintstone mop]

makes for some great local ragchewin'

And even some whirl wide chewin into the middle East on 40M.....

[W2VW]

Major drop in reliable information, I say.

[W2PFY]

When is the solar max this cycle?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

When is the solar max this cycle?

For bad eyes, go here:
http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/ssn_predict_l.gif

[k4kyv]

Considering the demographics, many if not most licensed amateurs in the US, and members of this board as well, don't have to worry too much about what band conditions will be like in Cycle 25.

[flintstone mop]

Looks like whatever peak we were having has turned into a slump.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Looks like whatever peak we were having has turned into a slump.

Just a point in time. Daily/weekly/monthly solar activities all have their cyclic adventures.

[Bill, KD0HG]

Here's another spin on the the projected cycle, from a meteorological perspective:

Earth may be headed into a mini Ice Age within a decade
Physicists say sunspot cycle is 'going into hibernation'

An immediate question is whether this slowdown presages a second Maunder Minimum, a 70-year period with virtually no sunspots [which occurred] during 1645-1715.

As NASA notes:

    Early records of sunspots indicate that the Sun went through a period of inactivity in the late 17th century. Very few sunspots were seen on the Sun from about 1645 to 1715. Although the observations were not as extensive as in later years, the Sun was in fact well observed during this time and this lack of sunspots is well documented. This period of solar inactivity also corresponds to a climatic period called the "Little Ice Age" when rivers that are normally ice-free froze and snow fields remained year-round at lower altitudes.

During the Maunder Minimum and for periods either side of it, many European rivers which are ice-free today – including the Thames – routinely froze over. (snip)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/14/ice_age/

[Ed/KB1HYS]

There was also the Dalton minimum as well. Though not as long as the Maunder minimum, still a significant event.   If we are at a 'minimum'  I wonder it the planet will cool down as it did during the MM?  Snow in summer & crop failures from the bad (colder) weather caused famines which enabled the plague to thrive in the middle ages. 

[K1JJ]

"This deepest solar minimum in a century, marking the end of sunspot cycle 23, saw the Sun's global magnetic field and solar wind weaken, allowing dangerous cosmic rays to sweep the inner solar system.
It also prompted a cooling and collapse of Earth's upper atmosphere in the absence of the UV ray heating normally provided by sunspot activity."

I wonder if these "dangerous" cosmic rays were responsible for weakened immunity systems during the cold periods which hosted the black plague that occured during 1348-1350?  We have no sunspot records then.   Also responsible for the bad times of the last mini ice age?  


It's interesting that current economic cycles point to a major bear market to continue into the next 50-60 years or so. Historically, major economic bad times tend to occur with plagues. There may be many inter-related reasons for this.  But the major solar minimums and mini ice age connections are intriguing.

Like anything, the 11 year solar cycle rides on many other longer cycles. These bigger cycles could be 22, 100, 300 years long, etc  and will squash the 11 year cycle like a bug when the bigger ones peak or trough.


T

[Ed/KB1HYS]

All things have a natural rhythm, Sometimes on such a long scale that we ephemeral creatures will never be aware of them.

[Bill, KD0HG]

All things have a natural rhythm, Sometimes on such a long scale that we ephemeral creatures will never be aware of them.

Indeed.

[WD8BIL]

I guess it's time for us to drill here in the U.S. and start burning the fossil fuels in record numbers. Take the converters off our cars and start the global warming machine to head off this new mini ice age. 

[WA1GFZ]

Oh Crap we are all going to freeze.
Send me your money so I can get the word out

[Steve - K4HX]

Major drop in solar activity ahead, scientists¹ say



1 - Charlatans and morons posing as scientists trying to obtain research funding (knowing full well some idiot in the government will fall for their crap and supply the money).

[k4kyv]

Cut off funding to scientific research.  We don't need it, since we already know all the answers and facts. The earth is flat, and the universe is 6000 years old.  

Eliminate science classes from the public schools; it's a waste of money and besides, the kids are entitled only to instruction in reading, writing and basic maths. It's the individual's personal responsibility to figure out what to do with all that reading, writing and 'rithmetic, once learnt.

[WD8BIL]

My skool lernt me to talk gooder and look whar I am to day!

[WA1GFZ]

God's middlemen have all the answers just send money and obey

[Steve - K4HX]

I'm all for funding science. That's not what is being discussed here. This is junk science. Please stay on topic.

Cut off funding to scientific research.