Over the weekend, we reviewed the state of the solar data for March 2017. Now, there’s a two week straight lack of sunspots, the longest stretch since 2010.
Overview
The sun is currently blank with no visible sunspots and this is the 14th straight day with a blank look which is the longest such stretch since April 2010 according to spaceweather.com. Historically weak solar cycle 24 continues to transition away from its solar maximum phase and towards the next solar minimum. In April 2010 – the last time there was a two week stretch with no visible sunspots – the sun was emerging from the last solar minimum which was historically long and deep. There have already been 26 spotless days in 2017 (34% of the entire year) and this follows 32 spotless days last year which occurred primarily during the latter part of the year. The blank look to the sun will increase in frequency over the next couple of years leading up to the next solar minimum – probably to be reached in late 2019 or 2020. By one measure, the current solar cycle is the third weakest since record keeping began in 1755 and it continues a weakening trend since solar cycle 21 peaked in 1980. One of the impacts of low solar activity is the increase of cosmic rays that can penetrate into the Earth’s upper atmosphere and this has some important consequences.
Comparison of all solar cycles since 1755 in terms of accumulated sunspot number anomalies from the mean value at this stage of the solar cycle. Plot courtesy publication cited below, authors Frank Bosse and Fritz Vahrenholt
Third weakest solar cycle since 1755
A recent publication has analyzed the current solar cycle and has found that when sunspot anomalies are compared to the mean for the number of months after cycle start, there have been only two weaker cycles since observations began in 1755. Solar cycle 24 began in 2008 after a historically long and deep solar minimum which puts us more than eight years into the current cycle. The plot (above) shows accumulated sunspot anomalies from the mean value after cycle start (97 months ago) and only solar cycles 5 and 6 had lower levels going all the way back to 1755. The mean value is noted at zero and solar cycle 24 is running 3817 spots less than the mean. The seven cycles preceded by solar cycle 24 had more sunspots than the mean.
Daily observations of the number of sunspots since 1 January 1900 according to Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (SIDC). The thin blue line indicates the daily sunspot number, while the dark blue line indicates the running annual average. Last day shown: 28 February 2017. (Graph courtesy climate4you.com)
Read more at Paul Dorian’s Vencore Weather
No wonder it’s so cold here in the Pacific NW!
Based upon the weather is climate “reasoning” of consensus “climate science”.
Another chance to get into the possible effects of sunspots on terrestrial weather. I used to think there was a connection, but the evidence is very unclear.
OMG…man-made climate change is affecting sunspots now!!!! /sarc
Clearly, an absence of sunspots is proof-positive of man-made climate change.
How were they taking and recording these observations in 1755? Thank God for human curiosity and imagination that we had solar nerds back then.
Com’ on! Don’t let obvious facts interfere with your agenda.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r103/HocusLocus_photos/GreatPumpkin.gif
No sunspots? Trumps fault. A special prosecutor is needed.
I am sure that this can all be corrected with a sunspot correction factor to document the warmth relative to other periods.
Lo and Behold — it is “the warmest March on record”
China has been observing and recording sun spots for hundreds of years.
It is all Bush’s fault. Opps Trump’s fault
14 days of a blank look…I think that is termed a “griff.”
Real world test of Svensmark et al.
I’m sure the Dems will call it “settled science” that this lack of sunspot activity has to do with man’s activities on earth … only additional taxes can save us now.
The Planets are currently in an interesting configuration. If this config is involved with the missing sunspots, and that link is Mercury, they should start back in a week or two.
In case anyone want to play with a solar system model
http://www.brightonastronomy.com/solarsystem.html
This is the Sun’s way of telling Algore and his snowflake army to STFU.
There are spots on the backside of the sun. Should rotate into view in a few days:
I don’t know why these climate guys can’t figure out the solution. The US should just nationalize the sun and then pass some laws, concerning the minimum/maximum amount of sunspots. Problem solved!
Do we have data from a satellite measuring Earth’s cloud cover? Is it too soon to expect the increased cosmic rays to have an effect? If I have not got this entirely wrong then increased cloud would be the clue that the solar minimum was going to change our climate.
How do we know it’s not going crazy on the side we can’t see? It rotates every 24 days or so.
The last two weeks here in upstate NY is as cold as the coldest January. The ground is buried in snow and icicles are three to five feet long from the north eaves. The sun controls temperature more than anything.
Has there been an observed trend in the number, strength, or duration of aurora events since 1980 and within the current solar cycle?
Another ugly result of climate change.
Those interested in this subject will find a daily video broadcast of news related to solar activity and Earth-Sun interactions at Suspicious Observers: http://www.suspicious0bservers.org/
“The seven cycles preceded by solar cycle 24 had more sunspots than the mean.”
I think you meant to say “The seven cycles preceding solar cycle 24 had more sunspots than the mean”.