Maunder Minimum Matters: Issues Over A Quiet Sun

The Sun is the great engine that runs Earth's weather in what is normally an eleven year cycle coinciding with sun spot activity. That cycle, including one serious anomaly called the Maunder Minimum, has been observed over four centuries. Current observations now show that an expected increase in sun spots may not occur. This could lead to a 22 year-long or longer minimum, and it's raising concern among climatologists.

Why, you ask? Beginning in the mid-17th century, our sun failed to "show its spots" for seventy years and ushered in Earth's "Little Ice Age." If we don't see more sun spots soon, we could be experiencing the making of another Maunder Minimum.

We've posted about the Sun, its spots, and the global warming debate more than a few times over the past three years. John Hinderaker at Powerline has a link and commentary on this latest finding.