Tags
astronomy, NASA, SOHO, solar maximum, space weather, Sun, sunspot cycle, Sunspots
Seven identified sunspots are on the Earth-side for 9 NOV 2013
Sunspots of 9 NOV 2013
The Sun’s sunspot maximum is turning out to be a dud, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. The sunspot maximum began its eleven year cycle in 2010 after one of the quietest solar minimums in recent history. Now in its fourth year, the sunspot maximum is one of the wimpiest since early last century.
Sunspot cycle for last 60 years
The current sunspot activity is half to two-thirds of the previous five cycles (See Graph 1.0;) however, the current cycle is typical of the first solar maximum of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries (See Graph 2.0.)
Graph 2.0 Sunspot activity since 1700
The current cycle is also building to a double peak of sunspot activity that has been consistent in the last three sunspot maximums, which is typically followed by a rapid drop off of sunspot numbers. It is likely that activity will fall dramatically during 2014-15 leading us into the next solar minimum that will bottom out late in this decade.
Pingback: Coldest Outbreak in Midwest Since the 1990s (So when is the Global Warmking Going to kick in? - Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - Page 20 - City-Data Forum
Once again the conservative view is filled with mixing selective ‘facts’ that twist the truth. One computer model by UCAR in March 2006 predicted that solar cycle 24 would be 30% to 50% stronger than the PREVIOUS solar cycle (http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2006/sunspot.shtml). That computer model turned out to be incorrect. That doesn’t negate ALL science. Yes, there were efforts by NASA and others to prepare for major sunspot activity, but that was part of the realization that in today’s electronic world we are much more vulnerable to damage caused by a significant CME hitting Earth. There was no prediction that it would actually happen, just some very smart people realizing the threat and telling us to be prepared.
By 2010, ALL the predictions were suggesting that the solar maximum would be minor. You seem to be listening to the doomsayers, not scientists. Once again science got it right.