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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Are Sunspots Disappearing |
| 2009-09-10 |
| "Sunspot magnetic fields are dropping by about 50 gauss per year," says Penn. "If we extrapolate this trend into the future, sunspots could completely vanish around the year 2015." This disappearing act is possible because sunspots are made of magnetism. The "firmament" of a sunspot is not matter but rather a strong magnetic field that appears dark because it blocks the upflow of heat from the sun's interior. If Earth lost its magnetic field, the solid planet would remain intact, but if a sunspot loses its magnetism, it ceases to exist. "According to our measurements, sunspots seem to form only if the magnetic field is stronger than about 1500 gauss," says Livingston. "If the current trend continues, we'll hit that threshold in the near future, and solar magnetic fields would become too weak to form sunspots." If sunspots do go away, it wouldn't be the first time. In the 17th century, the sun plunged into a 70-year period of spotlessness known as the Maunder Minimum that still baffles scientists. The sunspot drought began in 1645 and lasted until 1715; "Whether [the current downturn] is an omen of long-term sunspot decline, analogous to the Maunder Minimum, remains to be seen," Livingston and Penn caution in a recent issue of EOS. "Other indications of solar activity suggest that sunspots must return in earnest within the next year." Whatever happens, notes Hathaway, "the sun is behaving in an interesting way and I believe we're about to learn something new." |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #10 If we all light a match together, we can suck all the oxygen out of the atmosphere.....(burns fingers) OUCH! |
| Posted by: Skunky Glins 5*** 2009-09-10 23:42 |
| #9 That one's easy, Frank. Plant trees to bind two oxygens to each carbon atom, and the problem will take itself away. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-09-10 23:06 |
| #8 obviously we need to declare oxygen a "greenhouse gas" and limit the production |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-09-10 19:52 |
| #7 This is terrible. Due to man made sunspot destruction otherwise serviceable Category 5 Hurricanes a fizzling out in the Mid-Atlantic. Oh, the humanity! Al Gore here is a whole new opportunity to make millions. "Solar Cooling" /sarc |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2009-09-10 19:17 |
| #6 "Behaving in an interesting way and I believe we're about to learn something new" These are some of the most exciting words in science. We have a primitive understanding of complex chaotic dynamic systems, the Sun and our climate being just two examples, and no matter what al Gore and his disciples say, the science is *not* settled. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-09-10 14:10 |
| #5 Hey, can you tell me what's your name? "My name is Roosevelt E. Roosevelt." Roosevelt, what town are you stationed in? "I'm stationed in Poontang." Well, thank you, Roosevelt. What's the weather like out there? "It's hot! Damn hot! Real hot! Hottest things is my shorts. I could cook things in it. A little crotch pot cooking." Well, tell me what it feels like. "Fool, it's hot! I told you again! Were you born on the sun? It's damn hot! It's so damn hot, I saw little guys, their orange robes burst into flames. It's that hot! Do you know what I'm talking about?" What do you think it's going to be like tonight? "It's gonna be hot and wet! That's nice if you're with a lady, but ain't no good if you're in the jungle!" Thank you, Roosevelt |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-09-10 09:56 |
| #4 Save the Sunspots! |
| Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats 2009-09-10 09:49 |
| #3 Fallen Angels |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2009-09-10 05:47 |
| #2 And we will REALLY need a robust utility system if this another "Maunder Minimum" scenario. It's gonna get cold out there. I hope Al Gore and his cultists freeze their buns off. |
| Posted by: tipover 2009-09-10 01:11 |
| #1 "Behaving in an interesting way and I believe we're about to learn something new" > IOW, the Perts are uncertain or don't know whats gonna happen. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-09-10 00:58 |