Farewell Sunspots?

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03sep_sunspots.htm?list1302321

Because I know that is has happened before - the Maunder Minimum was a period between 1645 to 1715 where sunspots were very rare compared to today - I am quite concerned that the decline in the magnetic field strength of sunspots will continue.

"According to our measurements, sunspots seem to form only if the magnetic field is stronger than about 1500 gauss," says Livingston. "If the current trend continues, we'll hit that threshold in the near future, and solar magnetic fields would become too weak to form sunspots."

What could it mean for us? We could be entering a phase of global cooling. According to Wikipedia:

The Maunder Minimum coincided with the middle — and coldest part — of the Little Ice Age, during which Europe and North America, and perhaps much of the rest of the world, were subjected to bitterly cold winters. Whether there is a causal connection between low sunspot activity and cold winters is the subject of ongoing debate...

Sunspots. What Sunspots?

For the first time since 1913 we have had a month without a single sunspot. The 7 months prior to August averaged a very low 3 sunspots. This is the most likely cause for global temperatures dropping this year. Is it something we should be concerned about?

On the one hand, we could be heading into a "mini-Ice Age" that coincided with the Maunder Minimum of 1645 to 1715. This would mean colder weather and nothing an extra layer of clothing and a million glasshouses won't fix.

On the other hand, it could just be "one of those things" and come right soon.

Or, there is grave concern that the Sun is building up to an almighty Coronal Mass Ejection or similar, in 2012, that could wipe out humankind.

Read more at Bob Kingsley's site.

Our Sun is quiet, almost too quiet...

The scientists said periods of inactivity are normal for the sun, but this period has gone on longer than usual.

"It continues to be dead," said Saku Tsuneta with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, program manager for the Hinode solar mission. "That's a small concern, a very small concern."

It could be that the Sun is just saving up for a massive amount of activity in 2012. Or, on the other hand, it could do nothing for 50 years and give us a mini ice age like we had from 1650 to 1700.

Approximately 100 scientists from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and North America gathered June 1-6 to talk about "Solar Variability, Earth's Climate and the Space Environment." - and they are thinking that 2 years without a sunspot is perhaps too long. Read more...

NASA: Solar Cycle 24 may have begun

It could be starting now.

"New solar cycles always begin with a high-latitude, reversed polarity sunspot," explains Hathaway. "Reversed polarity " means a sunspot with opposite magnetic polarity compared to sunspots from the previous solar cycle. "High-latitude" refers to the sun's grid of latitude and longitude. Old cycle spots congregate near the sun's equator. New cycle spots appear higher, around 25 or 30 degrees latitude.

The region that appeared on Dec. 11th fits both these criteria. It is high latitude (24 degrees N) and magnetically reversed. Just one problem: There is no sunspot. So far the region is just a bright knot of magnetic fields. If, however, these fields coalesce into a dark sunspot, scientists are ready to announce that Solar Cycle 24 has officially begun.