[Robert A Cook PE]

Ref: Sunspot cycle 24:

What’s the story on this cycle? I thought it (was to to begin) 14 months ago?

Is it still “late” beginning? Or actually has begun, but is not even as large as expected?

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2. The earth’s magnetic field intensity is lowering significantly over the past several decades. How has THAT change affected the cosmic ray impacts/shielding/sunspot effect that (in turn) affects cloud intensity?

Or has anybody related magnetic field intensity to cosmic ray received intensity?

[Tarpon]

Sunspot cycle 24 is still late, for the last few weeks the number has been 0. Suggestions are beginning that a new Maunder minimum may be in the making, but all we can do is wait and see, future prediction is not man's strong suit, even when armed with big computers.

There is some recent research showing that cosmic rays are increased with less solar winds, but increased with reduced magnetic field. The reduced magnetic filed also allows in much more of the particle energy of the sun, lots of auroras these days. Higher numbers of particles and more cosmic rays hitting the Earth's atmosphere means more clouds and precipitation, but -- Complicated at best.

For the sun, which I have the most interest in, the site www.spaceweather.com is probably the best clearing center for daily goings on.