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NOAA confirms start of new sunspot cycle
AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/4/08 | AP

Posted on 01/04/2008 5:37:58 PM PST by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON - A new solar cycle is under way. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday that the first sunspot of a new 11-year cycle has appeared in the sun's northern hemisphere.

The frequency of sunspots rises and falls during these cycles, and the start of a new cycle indicates they are likely to begin increasing.

Sunspots, areas of intense magnetic activity on the sun, can affect Earth by disrupting electrical grids, airline and military communications, GPS signals and even cell phones, the agency said. During periods of intense sunspot activity, known as solar storms, highly charged radiation from the sun may head toward Earth.

"Our growing dependence on highly sophisticated, space-based technologies means we are far more vulnerable to space weather today than in the past," said NOAA Administrator Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.

Last April an international panel of solar experts forecast that Solar Cycle 24 would start in March 2008, plus or minus six months. The panel was split between those predicting a strong or weak cycle.


TOPICS: Weather
KEYWORDS: confirms; noaa; solar; sunspot
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1 posted on 01/04/2008 5:38:02 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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Space Weather Prediction Center: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov

Solar Cycle forecast: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2847.htm


2 posted on 01/04/2008 5:38:33 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge
Bush's fault.

/L. Ron Gore

3 posted on 01/04/2008 5:39:48 PM PST by MrEdd (Heck is the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aren't going.)
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To: NormsRevenge
All right!!!! Which one of you global warmists started this new cycle??!!!! I’m waiiiiiiting!!!!!
4 posted on 01/04/2008 5:41:37 PM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it! Duncan Hunter is a Cosponsor.)
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To: NormsRevenge

No wonder we warmed up today!


5 posted on 01/04/2008 5:42:59 PM PST by SouthTexas (Happy New Year!)
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To: NormsRevenge

GW is going to seem inconsequential if the Sun has even a minor hiccup.


6 posted on 01/04/2008 5:43:21 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
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To: Beowulf; Defendingliberty; WL-law; Normandy
"Hot Air Cult"

~~Anthropogenic Global Warming ™ ping~~

7 posted on 01/04/2008 5:43:38 PM PST by steelyourfaith
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To: NormsRevenge

Info I have read says that they are predicting the peak of solar activity will be in 2011 or 2012.

Keeping my eyes on the Easter sky.... President Hillary (or Obama) could be issuing in the end times....

Or maybe I am wrong....


8 posted on 01/04/2008 5:43:53 PM PST by TheBattman (LORD God, please help us to elect a Godly and patriotic man for President in 08, Amen.)
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To: NormsRevenge

We’re freakin’ doomed!


9 posted on 01/04/2008 5:45:04 PM PST by SIDENET (Hubba Hubba...)
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To: NormsRevenge

Obviously due to man-made increased CO2 emissions.


10 posted on 01/04/2008 5:45:51 PM PST by Always Right
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To: TheBattman
President Hillary (or Obama) could be issuing in the end times....

End times? That's just great. And to think I just bought a new car.

11 posted on 01/04/2008 5:46:50 PM PST by SIDENET (Hubba Hubba...)
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To: NormsRevenge
So what does this mean for Global War... er ... I mean ... Global Climate Change?
12 posted on 01/04/2008 5:48:57 PM PST by gridlock (There are 49 other states in the Union. We don't need another President from Arkansas just yet.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Latest SOHO:


13 posted on 01/04/2008 5:50:56 PM PST by xcamel (FDT/2008)
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To: NormsRevenge
Image hosted by Photobucket.com

14 posted on 01/04/2008 5:51:32 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: steelyourfaith; NormsRevenge

“Did Sunspots Sink the Titanic?”

http://www.research.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/spot_sunclimate.html


15 posted on 01/04/2008 5:53:13 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: SIDENET
End times? That's just great. And to think I just bought a new car.

I hope you didn't pay cash!

16 posted on 01/04/2008 5:53:18 PM PST by gridlock (There are 49 other states in the Union. We don't need another President from Arkansas just yet.)
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To: Always Right
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Only you can prevent sunspots.
Buy Carbon Offsets Now.
   Al Gore
17 posted on 01/04/2008 5:55:50 PM PST by Qout
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To: NormsRevenge

Did the “Sun” get Al Gore permission to start this new cycle ?


18 posted on 01/04/2008 5:56:52 PM PST by Popman ("We are going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." Hillary Clinton)
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To: NormsRevenge

BUMP


19 posted on 01/04/2008 5:58:13 PM PST by Dustbunny (The BIBLE - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
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To: NormsRevenge
"period of extreme cold that resulted in what historian John D. Post called the ‘last great subsistence crisis.’ With that cold came massive crops losses, food riots, famine and disease. I believe this next climate change will be much stronger and has the potential to once more cause widespread crop losses globally with the resultant ill effects."

That'll be inconvenient.

20 posted on 01/04/2008 5:58:43 PM PST by Paladin2 (Huma for co-president!)
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