Two solar scientists—Matthew Penn and William Livingston, with the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson, Arizona—are predicting that by 2016 there may be no remaining sunspots, and the sun may stay spotless for several decades. They’re basing their prediction on the measurement of the magnetic field strength of 1,500 sunspots since 1990. What they have found is that the average strength of the magnetic fields is declining. When the magnetic field strength falls below a particular value, sunspots are unable to form.
Mike says
GREAT……I plan to retire in 2020 but then again maybe they are wrong.
Wayne Justice says
Dan, The sunspots may wink out sooner if the smaller sunspots gauss had not been omitted from their calculations.
Checking with the previous Dalton Minimum, the preceding sunspot curves appear to be “spot on” to the current cycle.
This means we are already in a repeat Dalton like minimum. However, if the sunspots do disappear in or around 2016,
the big question is, will the climate slip into a more serious minimum-like the Maunder one.