Sun nearly blank

[N1LAF]

ALMOST-BLANK SUN: In case you needed a reminder that this solar cycle is the weakest in decades, take a look at the solar disk.

Today it's almost blank: Only last month, solar activity reached a fever pitch with one sunspot alone dumping enough energy in Earth's atmosphere to power every residence in New York City for two years. Such outbursts are consistent with predictions that solar maximum is only about one year away. Yet even on the threshold of Solar Max, the sun remains capable of deep quiet.

Sunspot number: 24

http://www.spaceweather.com/

[PA5COR]

So what?

During the better weeks i already worked all continents on 10/12/15/18/20 MHz.
And most countries too in Phone... anywhere from 10 - 1000 watts output here.
Even a few years back when we had no sunspots at all i found a way to work the world, there is always a band open, if you understand propagation a bit.

It let me improve my antenna setup, try different configurations to adapt to the situation.
It would be nice to have a good maximum, but in 2000 and on i already expected this to be a worse one and with just some up periods lasti g a few weeks at a time.

A least 160 stays usable LOL

[N2RJ]

So what?

During the peak in 2001 I used to talk on 10m FM simplex to Europe. When the spots are abundant the bands are HOT.

[KC2UGV]

During the peak in 2001 I used to talk on 10m FM simplex to Europe. When the spots are abundant the bands are HOT.

I was a CB'er during that period, and man! CB was hardly usable due to so hearing so much. The entire hemisphere on every channel! And, to boot, while in Texas, I got to see the Aurora Borealis :)

[n2ize]

ALMOST-BLANK SUN: In case you needed a reminder that this solar cycle is the weakest in decades, take a look at the solar disk.

Today it's almost blank: Only last month, solar activity reached a fever pitch with one sunspot alone dumping enough energy in Earth's atmosphere to power every residence in New York City for two years. Such outbursts are consistent with predictions that solar maximum is only about one year away. Yet even on the threshold of Solar Max, the sun remains capable of deep quiet.

Sunspot number: 24

http://www.spaceweather.com/

And notice the effect it has been having on the weather. When it was spewing energy = warm winter. Now it is blank = cool April.

[PA5COR]

If that was true we should have had super conditions for decades by now.

Reality check: The energy output of the Sun varies very little over the solar cycle (i.e., by about 0.1%).

[n2ize]

If that was true we should have had super conditions for decades by now.

Reality check: The energy output of the Sun varies very little over the solar cycle (i.e., by about 0.1%).

here are some suggestions that there may also be regional climate impacts due to the solar activity. Measurements from NASA's Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment show that solar UV output is more variable than the total solar irradiance. Climate modelling suggests that low solar activity may result in, for example, colder winters in the US and southern Europe and warmer winters in Canada and northern Europe, with little change in globally-averaged temperature.^[2] More broadly, links have been suggested between solar cycles, global climate and events like El Nino.^[85] In other research, Daniel J. Hancock and Douglas N. Yarger found "statistically significant relationships between the double [~21 year] sunspot cycle and the 'January thaw' phenomenon along the East Coast and between the double sunspot cycle and 'drought' (June temperature and precipitation) in the Midwest."^[86]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_v...on_and_Weather

[KG4CGC]

Poland every morning for 2 weeks in '01 on a modest GP.

[NQ6U]

Was hearing the EU and South America from Six Land on 20m PSK31 last night, sunspots or no.

[W1GUH]

One "so what" is 10m AM. That is a great mode/band when the band's open. Only problem is when the band closes again & 10m is the loneliest place!

But 20m? Even with no sunspots, Eurpoe is routine from the east coast, even from the mobile.