Newton Kansan
NEWTON —
So, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., claims global warming is caused by solar flares, eh?
Then can he explain how the greatest warming trend in recent geological history is occurring during the lowest solar activity cycle since the 1700s?Solar flares — an energetic type of sunspot, the great billowing blisters of solar material that appear on the surface of the sun — occur in 11-year cycles. Scientists have been observing and tracking these cycles of solar activity since the 1800s. We currently are at the beginning of Cycle 24. Cycle 23 reached its peak seven years ago. Since then, the number and strength of sunspots and flares has steadily declined and has been very close to zero for about two years. In fact, in the two years ending in May, there were 636 days with no sunspots whatsoever! Compare this to the month of March 1958, when there were more than 200 sunspots.Scientists believe the low activity level between cycles 23 and 24 is lasting longer than normal because of variations in the circulation of gases in the interior of the sun. But that may change soon as the latest solar images show interior circulation returning to a more normal pattern. The next cycle is predicted to be the most active since 1958.If the extremely low solar activity of the last seven years has caused some of the warmest years in history, then watch out when the sunspots return in the next cycle — the atmosphere may get as hot as some of the air blowing around our elected officials!• www.solarcycle24.com/• http://science.nasa.gov-/headlines/y2009/29may_noaaprediction.htm• http://science.nasa.gov-/headlines/y2009/17jun_jetstream.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org-/wiki/List_of_solar_cycles— Mike Hopkins,Newton