A Very Quiet Sun

Sunspots, nothing of great interest to most people on this small rock spinning around it’s nearest stellar object.  But perhaps we should take more notice, especially as there seems to be proven evidence of multiple cycles happening within the sun.

As a radio amateur (Ham radio), I was looking forward to the start of the coming cycle, Cycle 24 as it gives people like me a chance to speak to people in distant lands without using kilowatts of power.  Cycle 24 is, or will be when it gets going, part of the cycle that occurs event 11 years, well, 11years is an average, cycle 23, now on it’s last legs has lasted almost 13 years.  Cycle 24, first predicted to be bigger than Cycle 23, has struggled just to get going.  There have benn a few “proper” sunspots, many microspots that last just a couple of hours or days, but the sun has had more days when it has presented us with a face devoid of spots than 1933.

When will Cycle 24 take off?  Well, don’t bet on it starting tomorrow.  And in the past, a spot free sun has been linked to colder weather, are we about to see that Global warming was a scam?

Watch this space