Sun's Wind And Output On Extended Dimmer Switch: Scientists

From CNews Science:

WASHINGTON - The sun has dialled back its furnace to the lowest levels seen in the space age, new measurements from a space probe show.

But don't worry - it's too small a difference to change life on Earth, scientists say.

In fact, it means satellites can stay in orbit a little longer.

The solar wind - a stream of charged particles ejected from the sun's upper atmosphere at 1.6 million kilometres per hour - is significantly weaker, cooler and less dense than it has been in 50 years, according to new data from the NASA-European solar probe Ulysses.

And for the first time in about a century, the sun went for two months this summer without sunspots, said NASA solar physicist David Hathaway.

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Another Article On Sunspots, But This One Provides A Good Roundup

Solar Cycle 24 Is Still Late, Perhaps Signalling
Cool Weather Ahead -- Fabius Maximus

Summary: Sunspot counts and other indicators of solar activity continue at low levels. The last month with zero sunspots was June 1913. August had zero spots, or one (there is some debate about this). How solar cycle 24 develops deserves to be on the list of things to watch for anyone interested in geopolitics. A “small” solar cycle — a period in which the global climate cools — would have substantial effects. Esp. with global grain inventories at such low levels. As always, links to more information are at the end of this post.

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