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Old 07-13-2015, 09:12 PM
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Carl in Tampa Carl in Tampa is offline
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Post Sunspot cycles

Well, in spite of the cute responses, the Maunder effect (related to sunspot cycles) is well documented (and undisputed) science.

Shortwave radio operators are very familiar with sunspot cycles because they affect shortwave communications.

The sunspot cycle is generally known to be a cycle of approximately 11 years between successive peaks in sunspot activity. What is less known and understood is that with each successive 11 year peak, the magnetic field of the sunspots is reversed. So the sunspot cycle is in reality a 22 year cycle when the magnetic fields of the sunspots are taken into account.
On January 4th 2008, the first recent "reverse polarity" sunspot was recorded. This officially marked the start of sunspot cycle 24. (Incidentally, the magnetic poles of the Earth also reverse, but it happens over a period of eons.)

The subject is much too complex for a discussion here. By the way, sunspots are (relatively) COLD areas of the sun. Having large COLD areas on the sun could arguably affect the climate on Earth. Where did the term "Maunder" come from on the subject of sunspots? Edward Maunder was an astronomer and pioneer in the study of sunspots. His study identified the Maunder Minimum which coincided with the "Little Ice Age."


NASA/Marshall Solar Physics


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