For the first time in 100 years, we’ve just completed an entire month without a single sunspot. And the lack of sunspots could signal a new Ice Age or some other extraordinary climactic conditions on Earth.
According to data from UCLA’s Mount Wilson Observatory, the last time this happened was in 1913. When the sun is active, there are easily 100 or more sunspots in a month. While there’s an 11-year cycle of diminished sunspots, the current lack has scientists puzzled.
So far this year, the average number of sunspots per month has been three. August had none.
4 comments:
Joe D’Aleo of ICECAP also wrote some interesting things. "We have just had a 0 sunspot calendar month. There have been more 30 day intervals without sunspots as recent as 1954 but they have crossed months. Note that a cluster of zero month years in the early 1800s (a very cold period called the Dalton minimum - at the time of Charles Dickens and snowy London town and including thanks to Tambora, the Year without a Summer 1816) and again to a lesser degree in the early 1900s. These correspond to the 106 and 213 year cycle minimums. This would suggest that the next cycle minimum around 2020 when both cycles are in phase at a minimum could be especially weak. Even David Hathaway of NASA who has been a believer in the cycle 24 peak being strong, thinks the next minimum and cycle 25 maximum could be the weakest in centuries based on slowdown of the plasma conveyor belt on the sun."
There's more technical data, graphs etc on the Watts Up With That blog. Not to say I endorse Watts opinions on AGW but the data is there for those who want to look at it.
Any readers of Dickens will know that England was in a sort of mini ice age around the turn of the 18th/19th centuries. And all without central heating and thermal underwear....brrrrr !
The last time this happened was 1913... just before WWI.
Sorry but I have to correct that article, just because a spot didn't receive a number does not mean there were no spots...Most people, including scientists, obviously, don't know on the 21st a short lived but well defined active regions spawned 2 clear sunspots which can be seen in this picture from my website:
http://www.seemysunspot.com/solar_pics2/0821_rapavy1.jpg
To see more of the most comprehensive collection of daily solar observations go to: http://www.seemysunspot.com/
Stephen "Darkstar" Ames
Solar Observer/Archivist
I suspect this could evolve into a data-slinging match pitting observatory against observatory, in which I, as a layman, have no business getting involved.
"Darkstar" Stephen has a point, although it too appears to be debatable.
My original source was DailyTech.com. Its editors have now appended a footnote to their article, supporting somewhat Stephen's contention. Here it is:
"After this story was published, the NOAA reversed their previous decision on a tiny speck seen Aug 21, which gives their version of the August data a half-point. Other observation centers such as Mount Wilson Observatory are still reporting a spotless month. So depending on which center you believe, August was a record for either a full century, or only 50 years."
Either way, it's a fascinating phenomenon to watch. And thank you, Stephen, for your information.
~Greg LeFever
http://greglefever.blogspot.com
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