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Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle

Posted by Zonk on from the batten-down-the-planet dept.

An anonymous reader pointed us at a post on the Physorg blog, which discusses the possibility of an upcoming period of intense solar weather. We've discussed this before, but increasingly the evidence looks like 'Solar Cycle 24' (due to start in 2010 or so) is going to make life interesting here on earth. From the post: "Hathaway explains: 'When a gust of solar wind hits Earth's magnetic field, the impact causes the magnetic field to shake. If it shakes hard enough, we call it a geomagnetic storm.' In the extreme, these storms cause power outages and make compass needles swing in the wrong direction. Auroras are a beautiful side-effect. Hathaway and Wilson looked at records of geomagnetic activity stretching back almost 150 years and noticed something useful:. 'The amount of geomagnetic activity now tells us what the solar cycle is going to be like 6 to 8 years in the future,' says Hathaway."

9 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Solar Cycle 24 by The+Living+Fractal · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hmm, is that the cycle where we see one day of the Sun's life, and during that day the sun gets shot multiple times, saves the president, arrests the president later, gets beaten mercilessly, heals completely, and saves the girl, all in one day.. Or am I confusing this with something else...?

    TLF

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    I do not respond to cowards. Especially anonymous ones.
    1. Re:Solar Cycle 24 by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 2, Funny

      You're confusing it with the cycle where the sun changes weather patterns on earth and some people pretending to be scientists blame it all on you and demand that you live in a cave (or just die) and give them all political power (since they know best what everyone should do) in order to make up for your evil deeds, such as creating prosperity for everyone.

      But don't worry, I'm sure some idiot somewhere will cite these effects as "proof" that corporations control the world's climate. After all, all solar changes are obviously a result of man's interference in outer space.

      --
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    2. Re:Solar Cycle 24 by The+Living+Fractal · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, but if Chuck Norris simply sneezes the Solar Flare will be pushed back. It's just too bad Chuck Norris never gets sick and has no allergies. Jack Bauer, you win this round.

      TLF

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      I do not respond to cowards. Especially anonymous ones.
    3. Re:Solar Cycle 24 by The+Living+Fractal · · Score: 4, Funny

      So what you're telling me is to buy stock in a corporation, and probably one that produces sun tan lotion?

      TLF

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      I do not respond to cowards. Especially anonymous ones.
  2. TimeTravel tag? by stevenm86 · · Score: 2, Funny

    So does this mean we can predict solar flares and use them to travel to the past or the future?

  3. Re:Damn them solarians! by DevelopersDevelopers · · Score: 4, Funny

    Calm down. It may look like Slashdot doesn't care about the plight of the Solarians right now, but I swear we'll pledge our support just as soon as the Sun releases them under the GPL.

  4. Re:Wondering... by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

    The most affect areas are going to be the sunlit areas of the planet.

          Well DUH! Thank you, Captain Obvious!

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  5. Bitchy, bitchy, bitch by kitzilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, great ... the sun has a big cycle on the way. No doubt it will be bitchy and irritable beforehand. Like we need that.

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  6. December 21st, 2012 by SilverwoodUG · · Score: 3, Funny

    6 to 8 years in the future?
    It doesn't land on December 21st, 2012 does it?
    End of the Maya Calendar