The next 11-year sunspot cycle will be late but strong according to a new computer prediction
National Center for Atmospheric Research's High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, US.
The Sun is currently near its minimum activity, at the tail end of a solar cycle, numbered 23. "Onset of the next cycle will be delayed by six to 12 months, to late 2007 or early 2008," Dikpati says. She expects the next peak to hit in 2012.
Thoughts on this?
2007-03-23 05:53:55 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
That's pretty normal for sunspot cycles. They're never 11 years but vary between 10 and a bit over 12. I've been involved with the sunspot cycles for over 30 years and no one can ever predict what it will be like. If they can, have them give you lottery numbers. The Mayan calendar runs out for the old era and a new one was to begin. So what. They had no perception of the future. If they did, they wouldn't have gone extinct. I have a Barnes & Noble calendar that runs out in Feb 0f 2008. Does that mean doom and gloom will set in then ?
2007-03-23 06:25:00 · answer #1 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My thoughts? There are a million different things that'll peak (or valley) in 2012, just like there are a million different things peaking every year. The Mayans sure didn't have sunspots in mind when they did their calendar thing.
Oh, and the world won't end in 2012, just like it didn't end in 2000. Every few years the doomsters tout some new end-of-world date, only to quietly ignore it when it passes by and the world continues merrily along. I'm just amazed that people still fall for each new date.
I guess some people have a deep seated need to believe that the world is about to end. Heck if I know why.
2007-03-23 06:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is the 2012 theory of the Mayans, that all hell breaks loose that year?
Hey, we humans are doing plenty enough to make life miserable for ourselves. A hot sunspot activity year is just icing on a very big cake. Frankly, knocking out a few cable television satellites might be a good thing...literacy rates may skyrocket!
2007-03-23 06:03:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calling it a theory is a little bit of a stretch, isn't it? I would call it a superstition and leave it at that. After all, there are no Mayans around so how can it be anything else?
2007-03-23 12:13:33 · answer #4 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is highly likely that the "heat" that hits in 2012 will have very little (if anything) to do with the Sun !!!
2007-03-23 06:02:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you look for some sign of impending doom for any year you will eventually find one. Coincidences abound in our reality. Most of them are just that, and mean nothing else.
2007-03-23 06:02:49 · answer #6 · answered by John S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋