Sunspots Reach 1000-Year Peak

rlp writes "Researchers at the Institute for Astronomy in Zurich are reporting that solar sunspot activity is at a 1000-year peak. Records of sunspots have been kept since 1610. The period between 1645 and 1715 (known as the Maunder Minimum) was a period of very few sunspots. Researchers extended the record by measuring isotopes of beryllium (created by cosmic rays) in Greenland ice cores. Based on both observations and ice core records, we are now at a sunspot peak exceeding solar activity for any time in the past thousand years."

Comments

Man is mightier than the Sun!

[toupsie]

In particular, it has been noted that between about 1645 and 1715, few sunspots were seen on the Sun's surface. This period is called the Maunder Minimum after the English astronomer who studied it. Ice cores record climate trends back beyond human measurements. It coincided with a spell of prolonged cold weather often referred to as the "Little Ice Age". Solar scientists strongly suspect there is a link between the two events - but the exact mechanism remains elusive.

Yep, this totally doesn't debunk global warming. The incandescent light bulb is much more powerful contributor to global warming than the nuclear fusion of the Sun. We are much more likely to enter another "Little Ice Age" if we swap all incandescent light bulbs for compact florescent light bulbs than if the Sun changes its sunspot activity. Man is mightier than the Sun!

Is it me or has the Global Warming crusaders joined up with the Intelligent Designers? I don't who believes in myths and fairy tales more...

Re:What do you know

[mutende]

On the other hand, the documentary The Global Warming Swindle (copy here) argues that while the level of CO2 is rising, it is not the cause of global warming.