Martin Meenagh blog

The State of the Sun

NASA have held their press conference on the state of the Sun. Apparently we are now seeing the lowest minimum in a cycle since accurate records began. Indeed, solar cycle 24 seems almost quiescent. This means that cosmic winds which could be important in affecting cloud cover on earth, and which also play a role in diverting cosmic rays, are extremely low.

All of this in the past seems to have coincided with extreme moments of global cooling. So it seems that we could be heading back to the nineteen seventies at least. Soon, a scientific 'consensus', no doubt backed by politicians, premillenarians, and the media, will be pushing the 'next ice age' line fairly loudly.

What if the carbon, methane and sulphur in the atmosphere are eventually shown to keep us warmer than we should be? Are we going to be hoping for global warming in the coming winters?

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