19 Nov 10
"The Sun is currently behaving unexpectedly in a number of ways.
* It is in the midst of an unusual sunspot minimum, lasting far longer and with a higher percentage of spotless days than normal; since May 2008.
* It is measurably dimming; its output has dropped 0.02% at visible wavelengths and 6% at EUV wavelengths in comparison with the levels at the last solar minimum.
* Over the last two decades, the solar wind's speed has dropped by 3%, its temperature by 13%, and its density by 20%.
* Its magnetic field is at less than half strength compared to the minimum of 22 years ago. The entire heliosphere, which fills the Solar System, has shrunk as a result, resulting in an increase in the level of cosmic radiation striking the Earth and its atmosphere."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun#Present_anomalies
[Edit: Asterisks inserted. Reference numbers deleted. They may be found in the linked page.]
19 Nov 10
Originally posted by TaomanWould you say it's time for people at home to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside?
"The Sun is currently behaving unexpectedly in a number of ways.
* It is in the midst of an unusual sunspot minimum, lasting far longer and with a higher percentage of spotless days than normal; since May 2008.
* It is measurably dimming; its output has dropped 0.02% at visible wavelengths and 6% at EUV wavelengths in comparison with the levels at the l ...[text shortened]...
[Edit: Asterisks inserted. Reference numbers deleted. They may be found in the linked page.]
21 Nov 10
Originally posted by Taoman2 decades?
"The Sun is currently behaving unexpectedly in a number of ways.
* It is in the midst of an unusual sunspot minimum, lasting far longer and with a higher percentage of spotless days than normal; since May 2008.
* It is measurably dimming; its output has dropped 0.02% at visible wavelengths and 6% at EUV wavelengths in comparison with the levels at the l ...[text shortened]...
[Edit: Asterisks inserted. Reference numbers deleted. They may be found in the linked page.]
Anomalies compared to what?
I don't think our records go back far enough ..
Give it 50 million years or so.
22 Nov 10
1 edit
Originally posted by SmookiePActually they do. Ever hear of the Maunder minimum? Or the little ice age? It seems just when Europe was starting to recover from the death of the Roman Empire, around the year 900 winters got so bad that rivers froze over and the growing season went to practically zero, they think the starvation that happened and the black death and all were a direct result of a solar minimum, causing the dark ages.
2 decades?
Anomalies compared to what?
I don't think our records go back far enough ..
Give it 50 million years or so.
The same thing happened on a slightly lesser scale around the year 1400 or so. In that one, there were astronomers noting events on the sun and found pretty much zero sunspots for something like 100 years.
People who track such things I think are worried about another recurrence of the same thing, extreme winter in Europe causing mass starvation and the like.
22 Nov 10
Originally posted by sonhouseYes, people have been observing, but accurate observations have only been going on for a couple of decades.
Actually they do. Ever hear of the Maunder minimum? Or the little ice age? It seems just when Europe was starting to recover from the death of the Roman Empire, around the year 900 winters got so bad that rivers froze over and the growing season went to practically zero, they think the starvation that happened and the black death and all were a direct resul ...[text shortened]... her recurrence of the same thing, extreme winter in Europe causing mass starvation and the like.
22 Nov 10
1 edit
Originally posted by KazetNagorraIt is relatively easy to see visually without aids whether there are large sunspots or not. The era's I am talking about showed zero visible sunspots. This was supported by observations around the planet for a century or more by many cultures, China, for instance.
Yes, people have been observing, but accurate observations have only been going on for a couple of decades.
Those disastrous times were not times of 10 percent reductions which would have taken modern instrumentation, we are talking about NO sunspots, a much easier proposition for early visual astronomers.
22 Nov 10
Originally posted by sonhouseHere is a wiki link about the subject:
It is relatively easy to see visually without aids whether there are large sunspots or not. The era's I am talking about showed zero visible sunspots. This was supported by observations around the planet for a century or more by many cultures, China, for instance.
Those disastrous times were not times of 10 percent reductions which would have taken moder ...[text shortened]... tion, we are talking about NO sunspots, a much easier proposition for early visual astronomers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_Minimum
22 Nov 10
Originally posted by sonhouseI think he could handle it. In "DC One Million" Superman recreates his Fortress of Solitude in the centre of the sun, then proceeds to live there in self-imposed exile for 15,000 years!
So just what would Supey do to make more sunspots? Dive in an stir things up?
I know he is strong but can his suit take 6000 degrees?
But the Kent I was referring to is Kent Brockman of The Simpsons' fame. Here's the actual quote:
"Professor, without knowing precisely what the danger is, would you say it's time for our viewers to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside?"
"Yes I would, Kent."
22 Nov 10
Originally posted by PBE6Solly cholly I stand collected.
I think he could handle it. In "DC One Million" Superman recreates his Fortress of Solitude in the centre of the sun, then proceeds to live there in self-imposed exile for 15,000 years!
But the Kent I was referring to is Kent Brockman of The Simpsons' fame. Here's the actual quote:
"Professor, without knowing precisely what the danger is, would you say ...[text shortened]... to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside?"
"Yes I would, Kent."
23 Nov 10
Originally posted by sonhouseI hadn't made much of it, just thought it was an interesting set of data. The extra info in the posts certainly adds to the interesting times we live in. There was some talk of the sun having a positive effect on global warming, but this data appears to drop that idea, well and truly.
Actually they do. Ever hear of the Maunder minimum? Or the little ice age? It seems just when Europe was starting to recover from the death of the Roman Empire, around the year 900 winters got so bad that rivers froze over and the growing season went to practically zero, they think the starvation that happened and the black death and all were a direct resul ...[text shortened]... her recurrence of the same thing, extreme winter in Europe causing mass starvation and the like.
Perhaps we'd better get stokin all those new power stations up a bit? 🙂
Nah, best not.