We have observed spectroscopic changes in temperature sensitive molecular lines, in the magnetic splitting of an Fe I line, and in the continuum brightness of over 1000 sunspot umbrae from 1990-2005. All three measurements show consistent trends in which the darkest parts of the sunspot umbra have become warmer (45K per year) and their magnetic field strengths have decreased (77 Gauss per year), independently of the normal 11-year sunspot cycle. A linear extrapolation of these trends suggests that few sunspots will be visible after 2015.
Sunspots are cool dark regions on the solar surface with strong magnetic fields. There have been few direct measurements of changes in the physical parameters of sunspots, but here we present a study which shows that sunspots are becoming warmer and have weaker magnetic fields. The number of sunspots visible on the Sun normally shows an 11-year periodicity, and the current sunspot cycle (cycle 23) had a maximum in 2001, and is entering a minimum phase with few sunspots currently visible. Our data show that there are additional changes occurring in sunspots, independent of the sunspot cycle, and these trends suggest that sunspots will disappear completely. Such an event would not be unprecedented, since during a famous episode from 1645-1715, known as the Maunder Minimum, the normal 11-year periodicity vanished and there were virtually no sunspots visible on the solar surface (Eddy 1976). Recent studies of the appearance rate and latitudinal drift of sunspots (Hathaway et al., 2004) and of the solar magnetic field (Svalgard etal, 2005) predict that the number of sunspots visible in future cycles will be significantly reduced. Finally the occurrence of prolonged periods with no sunspots is important to climate studies, since the Maunder Minimum was shown to correspond with the reduced average global temperatures on the Earth (Foukal et al., 1990).
(Article continues below)
The line depth of OH 1565.3 nm for individual spots. The upper trace is the smoothed sunspot number showing the past and current sunspot cycles; the OH line depth change seems to smoothly decrease independently of the sunspot cycle. See full size image here
A linear fit to observed magnetic fields extrapolated to the minimum value observed for umbral magnetic fields. See full size image here
Leif Svalgard noted on Solar Cylce 24 forum relative to this paper that “There was a tiny pore on Aug 22nd, 2008. Bill Livingston measured its magnetic field and tells me today that it was 1931 Gauss. You may verify for yourself that that falls straight on his projected line. BTW, he has many other data points now between the last data shown on the plot and this latest one, and they also confirm the trend.”
August 27th, 2008 at 7:59 am
This won’t be a natural occurence. Just as gnostic articles explain, the suncruisers filmed are speeding up the rotation of the sun to increase it’s temperature and lessen and ultimately break the magnetism of the sun. Electromagnetic energy is key for darkness’ illusion of motion. When the sun fails our work here will be done.
Perseid Reply:
January 16th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Uh…ok…don’t forget your meds.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I really did not understand any of this article. What does it all mean ??????????? Are we doomed ???????
August 28th, 2008 at 7:42 am
when the sun dosnt have any spots on it, its not sending heat to the eart. …thuse setting earth for a ice age.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Just for fun, let’s use some critical thinking. Rules are that we can only employ information from the article, and that we cannot interject any pre-existing opinion.
Point 1: “Sunspots are cool dark regions on the solar surface with strong magnetic fields.”
OK. Fine.
Point 2: “There have been few direct measurements of changes in the physical parameters of sunspots, but here we present a study which shows that sunspots are becoming warmer and have weaker magnetic fields.”
So sunspots are getting smaller and therefore warmer. Meaning that overall, the sun is getting hotter. Do we agree?
Point 3: “Finally the occurrence of prolonged periods with no sunspots is important to climate studies, since the Maunder Minimum was shown to correspond with the reduced average global temperatures on the Earth (Foukal et al., 1990).”
This Maunder Minimum was apparently a cold period that was also a period of low sunspot activity. But sunspots are cool, dark regions of the sun. Fewer sunspots means a warmer sun. How could a warmer sun cause a cooler Earth? The Earth temperature during this cool Maunder Minimum must have been decoupled from sunspot activity. If sunpots are disappearing right now, then we can expect a hotter sun, and logically a hotter earth, unless the same cooling processes that occured in 1645-1715 happen again.
So, WarLoPo, you’re wrong. Maria, we may still be doomed, but for any of a million reasons. Orion-Ra–”darkness’ illusion of motion”? What the hell?
Doowadiddy Reply:
March 17th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Sorry simon, but your logic is based on one problematic misassumption. Fewer sunspots being present does not equate to less solar energy output. Sunspots are huge magnet storms which cause a greater outpouring of solar energetic particles. Therefore during a sunspot minimum less solar energy reaches the Earth than during a sunspot maximum.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
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