The record for longest consecutive number of sunspot-free days since 1913, which was set last year, is about to be usurped by a 2009 extreme.
By September 2, we will have reached a new record for the longest sunspot-free streak (since 1913). The second half of July as well as entire month of August has gone without a sunspot (as of the 28th). It's the longest "blank" streak since a 52-day streak took place in the summer of 2008.
A much longer streak of some 92 days took place in 1913, and that's the longest one in the past 100 years.
So, what does all of this mean? Perhaps nothing; but there is considerable data to suggest (not prove) that low solar activity correlates to cooler global temperatures.
However, NOAA reported that the surface sea temperatures around the world were the warmest on record in July 2009. While a moderate El Nino has been evolving over the past few months, there is certainly more going on here than these two mechanisms (solar variance and ocean patterns) account for.
This lower “solar pressure” , or energy flux, is truly unique within the lifetime of today’s humans on Earth, but of course when viewed from the legacy of the sun’s age, it’s just a bug on the windshield.
As for sunspots (ala solar variation), they likely do play a role in climate fluctuation; the unknowns which require more investigation are to determine how, and how much.
Comments
Global warming my butt, here is your culprit. Last I checked the sun was responsible for most of our climate changes. A lack of sunspots is very significant, a lot more than cow turds and brush fires
Fred, while there is some data suggesting solar cycles do influence climate, such as the Maunder and Dalton Minimums, that would also beg the question why we had record warm oceans in July during the deepest solar minimum in 100 years. There's more going on here than a simple one-variable system. This does not mean that ALL warming can be attributed to greenhouse gases either, however.
perhaps if this solar minimum continues we will se a moderate decline of ocean temps.. I don't think ocean temps are going to fluctuate so rapidly yet since we started this minimum only early last year. give it some time.
The Sun is the constant primary contribution to climate, but man does as well. Given the Sun were a constant, our impact could be measured with accuracy. Sunspots do emit much more radiation, but any affect either way takes time, much like a pot of water takes time to boil.
I don't see CO2 as our problem, I see it as a symptom of a much larger problem of expanding civilization and sprawl. You can measure the increase in CO2 with the decrease or destruction of Eco systems.
The so called Global Warming now Climate Change is a bug on the windshield as well. The lack of science backing the GW "sky is falling" hysteria is frightening. I'd pay more attention to the "bridges are falling" infrastructure problems and quit wasting money on carbon.
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