Comments on: What shall we call the next minimum?

By: Dell

Dell — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:05:11 +0000

Interesting article on current solar minimum

http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article3223603.ece

(Albiet from a pro-CO2/GW proponant)

By: Dell

Dell — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:00:33 +0000

Following up on the previous post, I would suggest we call it the AlGorian/milli-vanillian-(give back the award)-minimum.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:54:00 +0000

If the minimum is significantly low, resulting in a cooling of global temperatures, I think it should be called the Gore Minimum. Appropriate accolades to our most recent Nobel winner.

By: Carl

Carl — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:11:48 +0000

DR, no, SC24 has not begun.

There have been no SC24 spots, and we appear to have not yet reached the solar minimum.

Going by the data on the site you and Dan both linked to, it appears that we can expect many more spotless days to accumulate before SC24 gets underway.

By: DR

DR — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:50:36 +0000

Ok, help out a newbie please.

SC24 has already begun?
http://users.telenet.be/j.janssens/Spotless/Spotless.html

By: Harold Vance

Harold Vance — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:09:34 +0000

Another simple way of comparing cycle minimums is to study the number of spotless days. Solaemon’s Spotless Days Page has a very comprehensive discussion of this topic:

http://users.telenet.be/j.janssens/Spotless/Spotless.html

For instance, the first spotless day after solar maximum occurred in January 2004. Since that day, 46 months have elapsed and there is still no minimum at hand. This is an unusually long period (from first spotless day to minimum) compared to the last eight cycles, SC16-23. The average period for those cycles was 33 months with a standard deviation of +/- 5 months.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:43:50 +0000

Has anyone been following the solar wind stats? I am trying to find average monthly data similar to the sunspot data.

It is my understanding that a solar cycle does not officially begin until the sun’s magnetic poles flip polarity. Thus cycle 23 is still in effect but has bottomed out. From my research of the last 3 solar cycles, once we have a monthly sunspot reading of less than 2, at that point we should see the new cycle start. October I believe will have an average monthly number of less than 1. Meaning November should begin the steady ramp up of monthly sunspot counts.

By: DR

DR — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:47:13 +0000

RE 4:

Yes, I’ve read Hathaway was hoping his micro dot sun spot was SC24.

Here is another from Space Daily:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Sun_Loses_Its_Spots_As_Solar_Cycle_23_Bottoms_With_A_Cold_Wet_Southern_Winter_999.html

Can SC23 be considered at minimum regardless of that news release? What’s the difference between “bottoming” and minimum, or is that article conjecture?

Thanks.

By: DR

DR — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:46:46 +0000

RE 4:

Yes, I’ve read Hathaway was hoping his micro dot sun spot was SC24.

Here is another from Space Daily:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Sun_Loses_Its_Spots_As_Solar_Cycle_23_Bottoms_With_A_Cold_Wet_Southern_Winter_999.html

Can SC23 be considered at minimum regardless of that news release? What’s the difference between “bottoming” and minimum, or is that article incorrect?

Thanks.

By: mccall

mccall — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:52:48 +0000

I’m torn between “The Gore Minimum” vs “The MannBearPig Minimum!” Former VP Gores ability to speak at unseasonably cool venues of late, deserves memorializing.