Daily Tech reports that it’s now been more than a month since a sunspot was sited. This is the first time that this has happened in more than 100 years. The article notes:
In the past 1000 years, three previous such events — the Dalton, Maunder, and Spörer Minimums, have all led to rapid cooling. One was large enough to be called a “mini ice age”. For a society dependent on agriculture, cold is more damaging than heat. The growing season shortens, yields drop, and the occurrence of crop-destroying frosts increases.
No mention was made of poor band conditions on 20m <grin>
Jim says
Dan,
As I sit here and reply to your story it is September 2 and 90 deg f. I’d sure like some cooling to take place soon, real soon.
73!
Jim K8ELR
stephen ames says
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