Since the 1970s scientists have been telling us that based on Earth's natural glacial cycles we've been due—even overdue—for another prolonged period of global cooling. Visible evidence from the sun provides a more immediate warning. Sunspots have all but disappeared. (1)
In the past few weeks there's been a spate of news stories about a little ice age coming (2), and the importance of the sun's impact on climate. (3)
Solar activity is now falling more rapidly than at any time in the last 10,000 years. (4)
The latest from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows our sun as a blank canvas. No sunspots. Solar Cycle 24 activity continues to be the lowest in nearly 200 years. (5)
Disappearance of sunspots last happened during the centuries-long Little Ice Age that began in the 15th century, when astronomers using the recently invented telescopes saw only about 50 sunspots over a 30 year period, rather than the thousands that would normally have been expected. This period—which saw the Thames River in London freeze over and widespread starvation due to crop failures—is known as the Maunder Minimum, named after the English astronomer Edward Maunder. A growing number of scientists now think we are headed for another Maunder Minimum. (1)
Meteorologist and renowned sun-watcher Paul Dorian raised the alarm in his latest report: “for the second time this month the sun has gone completely blank.” The blank sun is a sign that the next solar minimum is approaching and there will be an increasing number of spotless days over the next few. “If history is any guide, it is safe to say that weak solar activity for a prolonged period of time can have a cooling impact on global temperatures in the troposphere which is the bottom most layer of Earth's atmosphere—and where we all live,” says Dorian. (6)
Mr. Dorian's findings back research by professor Valentina Zharkova of Northumbria University, who warned that a predicted sharp decline in solar activity between 2020 and 2050 is a sign another ice age is coming.
A recent presentation by a team of European researchers indicates that reduced solar activity will lead to a mini ice age from 2030 to 2040. Another study of sunspots last year by Indian, Chinese and Japanese astronomers indicates that a new ice age could start as soon as 2020 and reach its depths by 2030 to 2040. (1)
A very powerful case that the climate trend we're currently seeing is part of a product of a solar-linked cycle that creates harmless, naturally warmer weather conditions approximately every 150 years is made in a book by Singer and Avery. They maintain that there are natural cycles of cooling and warming going back to at least a million years. These are small excursions of global temperature, much smaller than the ice ages, which is why they haven't been noticed until the last 25 years or so. (7)
Even solar physicists at the ultra-warmist Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact are warning that Europe may be facing a 'mini ice age' due to a possible protracted solar minimum. For an institute that over the past 20 years has steadfastly insisted that man has been almost the sole factor in climate change over the past century and that the sun no longer plays a role, this is quite remarkable reports Pierre Gosselin. (3)
References
Lawrence Solomon, “Why it looks like 'game over' for global warming,”, businessfinancialpost.com, April 15, 2016
Joanne Nova, “Spotless sun again. Even a little ice age won't slow the man-made climate monster,” joannenova.com, June 29, 2016
Pierre Gosselin, “U-turn! Scientists at the PIK Potsdam Institute now warning of a mini ice age,” notrickszone.com. June 29, 2016
Lawrence Solomon, “Why humans don't have much to do with climate change,” huffingtonpost.com, June 13, 2015
David Archibald, “The sun is as blank as a billiard ball, solar activity dwindling to lows not seen in 200 years,” wattsupwiththat.com, June 30, 2016
“The sun has gone blank twice this month. This is what it means,” news.com, June 30, 2016
S. Fred Singer and Dennis T. Avery, Unstoppable Global Warming, (New York, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008)
Jack Dini is author of Challenging Environmental Mythology. He has also written for American Council on Science and Health, Environment & Climate News, and Hawaii Reporter.
Since the 1970s scientists have been telling us that based on Earth's natural glacial cycles we've been due—even overdue—for another prolonged period of global cooling. Visible evidence from the sun provides a more immediate warning. Sunspots have all but disappeared. (1)
In the past few weeks there's been a spate of news stories about a little ice age coming (2), and the importance of the sun's impact on climate. (3)
Solar activity is now falling more rapidly than at any time in the last 10,000 years. (4)
