The solar cycles start with a fairly consistent low value for sunspots to a varied high. It makes more sense to consider them as starting at the low, as the impact of sunspots on temperature is similar at that time. Tracking the temperatures during the minimum years is one way of seeing the steady increase in global temperatures.
The maunder minimum lasted for several cycles so there is no evidence yet that we are in such a period. There has been some recent research suggesting that multiple cycles are embedded within the major cycles that could cause the next few cycles to be low. However we will have to wait a few decades to see how that plays out.
What we have seen is that sunspots do raise temperatures on earth compared to the background level of no sunspots. The difference between a maximum and minimum appears to be about 0.3 degrees however in this weak cycle that may be reduced to just half that. The absence of sunspots does not cause cooling and the effect of the minimums compared with the underlying warming caused by CO2 increases is insignificant.
Currently we are at a solar minimum with no El Nino influence, yet this years global temperature appears likely to be second hottest on record. Any suggestion that a maunder minimum would reduce temperatures over the next few decades is pure disinformation created by those who wish to sidetrack the discussion on rising temperatures.
The solar cycles start with a fairly consistent low value for sunspots to a varied high. It makes more sense to consider them as starting at the low, as the impact of sunspots on temperature is similar at that time. Tracking the temperatures during the minimum years is one way of seeing the steady increase in global temperatures.
The maunder minimum lasted for several cycles so there is no evidence yet that we are in such a period. There has been some recent research suggesting that multiple cycles are embedded within the major cycles that could cause the next few cycles to be low. However we will have to wait a few decades to see how that plays out.
What we have seen is that sunspots do raise temperatures on earth compared to the background level of no sunspots. The difference between a maximum and minimum appears to be about 0.3 degrees however in this weak cycle that may be reduced to just half that. The absence of sunspots does not cause cooling and the effect of the minimums compared with the underlying warming caused by CO2 increases is insignificant.
Currently we are at a solar minimum with no El Nino influence, yet this years global temperature appears likely to be second hottest on record. Any suggestion that a maunder minimum would reduce temperatures over the next few decades is pure disinformation created by those who wish to sidetrack the discussion on rising temperatures.