Earth could enter a new 'Little Ice Age' in the coming years due to low solar activity

Sunspot activity, which follows an 11-year cycle, is due to peak in 2013 after which it will start to wane slightly. But astronomers think the next upswing will be less intensive than normal, or could fail to happen at all.

That could affect weather on Earth because low solar activity has been linked to low global temperatures in the past. Between 1645 and 1715 almost no sunspots were observed, a solar period which came to be called the Maunder Minimum. During those decades Europe suffered frequent unusually harsh winters, and the time was later termed the Little Ice Age. Although there is no conclusive evidence that one caused the other, many scientists believe it did.

Sunspots are darker patches on the sun's surface, caused by small areas of strong magnetic activity which disrupt the normal flow of intensely heated gases.
Paradoxically when there are most sunspots, overall solar output - called total solar irradiance (TSI) - is also at a high.

Three studies, presented at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society's solar physics division, all point towards declining sunspot activity into the next decade.

Frank Hill, of the National Solar Observatory in New Mexico, who worked on one of the studies, said: "The fact that there are three separate lines of evidence all pointing in the same direction is very compelling."

But Joanna Haigh professor of atmospheric physics at Imperial College London, said global warming could override any cooling effect on the Earth's climate.
She said: "This work suggests that the sun’s activity might be entering a longer period of change – a Grand Minimum, similar to that of the late 17th century."
During that time temperatures in north west Europe were about 1C lower than normal, and about 0.5C lower averaged globally.

However, she cautioned: "Even if the predictions are correct, the effect of global warming will outstrip the sun’s ability to cool even in the coldest scenario.
"And in any case, the cooling effect is only ever temporary. When the sun’s activity returns to normal, the greenhouse gases won't have gone away."

Oh, Jesus Christ! Will they make up their freakin' minds??!!

Yeah I know eh ?

Its all about the Confusion and keeping It at a high level...

Ei Yei Yei...

Okay.. let's just look at this scientifically.

1. solar system is moving toward the galactic core where there is a high density of cosmic gamma rays

2. cosmic gamma rays bombarding the sun and solar system is heating up all of the planets - this results in global warming which heats up magma

3. heated up magma expands the earth's core which creates quakes and volcanic eruptions

4. solar system has also entered and Oort cloud which is filled with space debris which also creates more solar activity as a result of the sun being a solar capacitor and the electrical interaction between astroids, comets and the sun - hence increase CMEs

5. increase in volcanic eruptions spews huge amounts of volcanic ash into the upper atmosphere creating increase in moisture (cloud cover), rain, snow. These changes with increased cloud cover tend to result in the planet cooling off.

6. Meanwhile, for the next few years there will be an increase in more of the same (quakes, tornados, volcanic eruptions, more wind, rain and snow which results in increased flooding when snow melts and longer winters in those geographical areas that were affect by the shift of the planet's axis due to the major 9. quakes in Chile and Japan.

7. Since the solar system is in a new area of space as it moves towards the galactic rift there is a very good possibility that it may be absorbed by the Milky Way which would also permanently alter the weather on earth as well.

8. Meanwhile, the solar system will continue to experience an increase in bombardment from cosmic gamma rays, the sun will continue to become more active, the planet will continue to experience an increase in quakes, volcanic eruptions, violent weather, disruption of weather cycles (longer winters, droughts, shorter growing seasons due all of the above)

9. Underground homes would be a good option. Cheap way to go... bury a steel quonset hut underground and put in a good size 5th wheel RV which is completely self-contained. There should be 8 feet of dirt on top and a nice secure entry way. Include an underground garage. Or build an earthship which is also completely self-contained.