jonboy

A 6.4 quake struck just of the coast of Chile just over an hour ago no other news at present.

See this also http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/05/17/new-study-links-cosmic-rays-to-aerosolscloud-formation-via-solar-magnetic-activity-modulation/

Still very active with 8 tremors at or over 5 in the last few hours all at about 40km depth. They all appear to be in a deep channel/trench when you view the satelite image. Makes you wonder if a tusami was generated in this area where it would have most impact?

Looks like 12 quakes over 5 in the Loyalty Islands in the last 3 hours something is either building or perhaps its a release point

I believe that Burma Has just suffered two Mag 7 earthquakes

We enter day 5 of this present spotless run. Highly unusal for this time within a cycle. Everything from flux to solar wind speed is very quiet. Is this what we can expect for the rest of the cycle?

The sun continues itsslumber with another spotless day being called by 'the laymans sun spot count'. The F10 flux remains exceeding low at 77 to 80 with the odd blip almost as the sun snores and solar wind speed is also stubornly low. If it doesn't wake up soon what can expect next winter i wonder!!

Thanks for the update I think the next few days will be intresting to see how things develope. who knows BFTP and RJS forecast for feb may still come off!!!

Being a total novice in regard to the stratosphere can someone update whats happening?

The sun is again spotless with the Flux value remaining low. All pointing to a grand minimum in the coming years. What long term impact will this have on our climate I wonder

I have to say Alan that i do believe the position of the planets does affect how our sun behaves. Something makes our sun more or less active in pratictable cycles and Landscheit goes ome way to explain this. The site then looks at how this may affect our climate cycles and in my view goes someway to explain why we have warmed and why we may well be entering a cooling. The site did call a severe Northern Hemisphere winter this year back in July which seems pretty accurate so far. To believe that only man influences our climate is in my opinion naive (Not meaning you Alan but many other commentators) we need to fully understand the external influences if we are to make the right decisions about our planet. After all if the biggest influences are not in our control we at the very least should be able to understand those external influences so that we can plan properly.

Hi Alan The following site has a wealth of information on how and why the suns activity may affect our climate. You will need to look around the site but it is avery interesting place to start http://www.landscheidt.info Jon

I think the count should be 5 as its showing the sun spotless on the 22nd but spotless number was last updated on the 21st. Whatever true number its still remarkably quiet. Laymans count is on 7

I understand snow in 3 states so not just an isolated area. Remarkable really for this time of year down under.

I Agree and another day is spotless on both counts. Several more days to come I think. Flux remains remarkably low for what should be 12 months of ramping up.

Spaceweather.com has now called the last two days spotless with laymans count on 4 days. Flux levels very quiet the sun is truly sleeping. So much for the ramp up in activity!!!If this continues I dread to think what next winter will be like

I was reading on spaceweather.com that this could be spectacular because of hoe clean our upper atmosphere is at present. Clearest for 50 odd years

Layman's count has noted the second spotless day and the 10.7 Flux remains very flat. The sun is sleeping and still showing no signs of waking up. Remeber these guys called for a severe northern hemisphere winter back in July!!!! Do they know something we don't!!

Hi C What do you think is causeing this warming as GP didn't forsee this in his lastest comments in the technical thread

Very cold 10 days daytime temps to be near normal following 7days but low overnights then cold end.therefore 2.9 for me

Given the climatic conditions certainly no colder or warmer than it is today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After an active period over on 'The Layman's Count' The sun is again spotless with minimal activity anticipated we could be in for a period of little or no activity. Can only add to an intresting winter!!

Regarding increased cloud cover a couple of observations from my somewhat limited reading on the subject. It seems to depend on the level of the increased cloud cover. Increased low cloud will give a positive feedback regarding AGW and increases in medium and high cloud the reverse. And then you have the cosmic ray influence on which subject there seems to be complete disagreement. That being the case, what chance have the lower orders (good old Jane) such as myself got of getting to grips with it?

The link below will take you to the Laymans Sunspot Count which tries to mimic the methods of old to give atruer comparison which definetly shows a similarity to cycle 5 which was dalton http://www.landscheidt.info/?q=node/50

For the third day the sun is blank with little sign of any activity to note. The sun continues to bump along the bottom.