New Scientist - Solar activity heads for lowest low in four centuries

[gary]

A 1st Nov 2013 story in New Scientist by Fred Pearce reports on a claim by
Mike Lockwood, professor of space environmental physics at Reading University, UK,
that solar activity is declining "faster than at any time in the last 9300 years."

Originally Posted by Fred Pearce, New Scientist

Lockwood and his colleagues are reassessing the chances of this decline continuing over decades to become the first "grand solar minimum" for four centuries.
During a grand minimum the normal 11-year solar cycle is suppressed and the sun has virtually no sunspots for several decades. This [northern hemisphere] summer should have seen a peak in the number of sunspots, but it didn't happen.

Story here -
http://www.newscientist.com/article/...centuries.html

[Dennis]

Thanks Gary, it was interesting reading about the late 17th century Maunder Minimum, when there were no sunspots for 70 years.

It is fascinating, and sobering, to read about these cycles within cycles along with their impact on our planet and it inhabitants over the centuries.

Cheers

Dennis

[Blair]

Bloody typical. Just bought a solar scope!

[5ash (Philip)]

Originally Posted by Blair

Bloody typical. Just bought a solar scope!

Keep it as an heirloom for your descendants , perhaps?

Philip

[Blair]

Originally Posted by 5ash

Keep it as an heirloom for your descendants , perhaps?

Philip

I likely will anyway

Sun still looks awesome