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A 2005 prediction of solar activity. The sunspot number should now stand close to 100, instead it is zero.
"Spin-orbit coupling" to blame; effects could last decades.

A new paper published by the Astronomical Society of Australia is warning of upcoming global cooling due to lessened solar activity.  The study, written by three Australian researchers, has identified what is known as a "spin-orbit coupling" affecting the rotation rate of the sun.  That rotation, in turn, is linked to the intensity of the solar cycle and climate changes here on Earth.

The study's lead author, Ian Wilson, explains further, "[The paper] supports the contention that the level of activity on the Sun will significantly diminish sometime in the next decade and remain low for about 20 - 30 years."   

According to Wilson, the result is a strong, rapid pulse of global cooling, "On each occasion that the Sun has done this in the past the World’s mean temperature has dropped by ~ 1 - 2 C."
 
A 2 C drop would be twice as large as all the warming the earth has experienced since the start of the industrial era, and would be significant enough to impact global agriculture output.

Earlier this year, astronomers from around the world noted solar activity was suspiciously low; some began predicting global cooling at that time.  Since then, activity has remained far below average, with it now being over two months since a single sunspot has appeared on the surface of the sun.

In May, a team of German climatologists published research stating that, due to "natural effects", global warming would halt for up to 15 years.

The new paper appears in the June issue of PASA, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia.

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All Hail The Sun God
By odessit740 on 7/1/2008 11:52:45 AM , Rating: 3
All hail Gore the Sun God,
He's a real smart God,
Blah Blah Blah!

I hate how the ones who suffer because of all this crap are the kids. Brain-washed by politicians left and right.

"We need to protect the nation, at all costs. There are terrorists amongst us!"
"We need to bring our troops home, they have no 'right' to be in Iraq."
"Support our troops."
"Our troops are war criminals."
"We need less reliance on oil."
"We need to drill for more oil."
"I will use public financing."
"I will not use public financing."

Anyone else tired of this crap?




RE: All Hail The Sun God
By mholler on 7/1/2008 12:43:38 PM , Rating: 4
Well, the only point I will address is that reducing reliance on oil and drilling for more oil are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Drilling will increase supply and decrease dependence on foreign oil in the short term, while continuing to develop alternative energy will allow for less reliance on oil in the long term.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By Ringold on 7/1/2008 5:38:20 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Drilling will increase supply and decrease dependence on foreign oil in the short term, while continuing to develop alternative energy will allow for less reliance on oil in the long term.


There are at least half a dozen regular posters who for whom that is far too moderate and rational. They'd call that a farce, and that we should be spamming solar and wind anywhere and everywhere. Anything that resembles a feasible, real-world solution goes down in flames. It's depressing.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By danrien on 7/1/08, Rating: -1
RE: All Hail The Sun God
By FITCamaro on 7/2/2008 7:54:46 AM , Rating: 2
Oh so now its 15-20 years. Funny. The Democrats first said it'd be 5 years. Then it was 10 years. And funny, it was 5-10 years ago when they said that.

So if we'd started drilling off the cost back in 1998 when it was last really brought up, but shot down by Clinton because it'd take 10 years to get going, we'd have that oil now.

I realize this common sense is a little to much for you though.

Liberals can keep spouting that it'll take 10 years all they want. The sooner we get started, the sooner it'll be here.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By FITCamaro on 7/2/2008 7:55:47 AM , Rating: 2
coast*


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 7/2/2008 10:54:21 AM , Rating: 2
They need to get started drilling now. They need to get started building new Nuclear power plants. Geothermal where its feasible. I even support the use of tidal generators which I think are superior in every way to wind based power.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By masher2 (blog) on 7/2/2008 11:29:05 AM , Rating: 3
In certain areas, tidal power indeed has vast potential. Unfortunately, environmentalists protest against it as much as they do any other practical energy source, due to the fact it might affect siltification in the area around the generators.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By FITCamaro on 7/2/2008 12:55:26 PM , Rating: 2
The only thing with tidal power is that from what I've read it can pretty much kill off fish and stuff in that area. I don't know all the details though. I'm not against it. But if it does kill off pretty much all marine life in an area, that's a bad thing.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By Boze on 7/3/2008 4:02:31 PM , Rating: 2
I couldn't agree more with you on the nuclear energy front, Kenobi. According to DOE reports from a few years back, it would only take 500 or so nuclear power plants to supply 100% of our nation's electrical power. We already have around 100 plants running in the nation, so that's 400 more... in addition, most of the running plants are older and less efficient than the newer model plants that nuclear engineers have designed, so the 500 number could be off.

On top of all this, we have a long-term storage solution for the nuclear waste in development right now, in a region of the United States that sees almost no rainfall with practically zero issues of groundwater contamination (Yucca Mountain), and in terms of transporting the waste, the shipping casks for spent fuel rods are damn near indestructible. Nuclear energy may finally start to see its place in the forefront of American energy policy.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By redsquid5 on 7/2/08, Rating: -1
RE: All Hail The Sun God
By Grast on 7/2/2008 3:09:42 PM , Rating: 2
Red,

We are not screwing our kids. The success of our economy requires a cheap economical source of energy. As soon realize that nuclear is the ONLY economical and realistic source for cheap electricity. The sooner we will be able to migrate away from fossil fuels.

If we had a viable cheap source of electricity, a number of technologies are economically viable to replace oil.

1. Hydrogen Generation
2. Electric vehicles with a range greater than 60 miles.

Let’s look at this dream world. If electrical power was a .2 cents a kilowatt hour and generate enough power for these needs, we could eliminate oil.

1. Electrolysis of Water for Hydrogen economy - This allows the use of fuel cells to supplement battery power. Hey now we do not need the internal combustion engine for virtually all forms of transportation. Cars, Heavy Movers, Trains They all could be used as currently designed with fuel cells.

2. Desantilization Plants - Source of clean water for power and further industrial use. This could actually provide cheap drinking water and irrigation water for the use. No more debate on dams and man made lakes.

3. The elimination of gas, wood, and fuel oil for the heating of our houses. Combine this with modern insulation; we have comfortable houses in the winter and summer.

The only thing that a cheap and abundant form of electricity can not provide is a replacement for air travel. I just have not heard of replacement for jet fuel.

In end, my humble opinion is that if you want to really provide a better environment and economy for your children. Demand the building of more nuclear power plants. Demand the immediate drilling of more resource at home. Those resources will keep our economy going and allow the 10 years need to build the infrastructure needed for power independence


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By bjacobson on 7/2/2008 4:52:52 PM , Rating: 2
I do believe ethanol can replace oil for jet engines, it would just take some work. It's definitely doable though.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ethanol+in+jet+engi...


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By TSS on 7/3/2008 1:36:40 PM , Rating: 2
yknow i wonder how much oil is actually used by vehicles/transportation/creating energy, and how much is used up by creating materials like plastics. there's more stuff to do with oil then just burn it yknow. dependancy on oil might not go away that easely.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By excelsium on 7/3/2008 2:55:28 PM , Rating: 2
Plastic and plastic substitutes can be made with corn oil and other things.. so really It's transportation that is the big concern.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By Grast on 7/2/2008 2:54:33 PM , Rating: 2
Danien,

Based on that logic.

What go to College this morning? I am not getting my degree, NOW!
Why go to work? My paycheck is not being delivered today?

In fact, why do anything! I should stay in bed and just die since anything I do will take time to mature and provide a measurable response.

I was about to say IF, but when we start drilling for oil again domestically, It should have several factors you have missed.

1. Discover unknown quantities of oil.
2. Employee a large number of American oil workers.
3. Assist in the speculation market by showing a growning future supply rather than a decreasing supply.
4. Reduce future price increases and allow more time for vialble and economical alternatives...... NUCLEAR.
5. Novel concept, the exportation of a valuable resource which brings money into the country.

I see no downsides for drilling and finding new sources of oil. I refuse to allow your fear mongering effect my life style and culture.


RE: All Hail The Sun God
By Keeir on 7/2/2008 3:13:30 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I was about to say IF, but when we start drilling for oil again domestically, It should have several factors you have missed.


Its already happening. In california, a state with significant enviromental restriction, new well applications are running up 10-20% and permints to rework old wells are up significnat as well.