For John, BLUF: Sun activity is down, and it may have an impact on our climate. Nothing to see here; just move along.
Speaking of Sunshine, here is an item out of The Daily Mail, "The calm before the solar storm? NASA warns 'something unexpected is happening to the Sun'". Of course, it is The Daily Mail. But, still, 2013 was supposed to be a solar maximum year, but so far has shown very few "Sun spots". It was expected in 2011 (we got a small peak in the Fall) and then 2012 and is now projected for the Autumn of 2013.
Here is a NASA press release from January of this year.
This item from Wikipedia talks to solar activity and climate, but this is not definitive, as another Wikipedia article tells us. Not simple, but, fascinating.
Regards — Cliff
5 comments:
I love it when you use science to prop up the science denier's argument.
I love science. Viewed over the long term it is like a no holds barred cage match.
And usually the old ideas die hard.
Regards — Cliff
The beauty and thus attraction (for me) of science is that pure since is based on the principle of there being nothing in the Universe completely known or settled.
My first clue about falsehoods and false notions is when some self appointed subject matter icon proclaims "the science is settled....."
In circa 1922, the worlds climate "experts" concluded that the science was settled regarding the effects of global warming at that time...that within a few years, coastal cities such as New York, Baltimore, etc., would in fact be underwater......and tropical fauna and flora would be flourishing in heretofore inhospitable northern latitudes.
Mankind LOVES hysteria.....feeds on it......and especially if it is backed by "science." Low information folks are particularly susceptible to prepackaged, predigested information....if they are interested at all. My elderly neighbor who is a NH native....in her 80's.....has NEVER been south of Salem, NH. The only things she "knows" about places like Boston is what folks tell her....or what she reads...if and when she reads.
I guess it takes all kinds.....even Democrats.....(it's Monday and I couldn't resist......)
There is a danger is feeding from the trough of credentialed experts. It's less dangerous than feeding from the trough of charlatans.
And, to concur with Neal's point, the science is never settled. But, there is the theory of 'Diminishing Returns.'
....there is indeed a point at which the horse is well and truly dead....
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