As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

Here is the latest monthly sunspot number graph from 1955 to Feb. 1, 2016

Notice the downward trend toward a deep solar minimum and compare it with the sunspot cycle around 1960, when we had a huge solar maximum, the largest in a century. Also notice that in 2009, the number of sunspots was almost zero.

This winter has been very cold.

[Maria]

Here is the latest international sunspot graph from 1700 to 2016:

[Matthew]

Here is the latest monthly sunspot number graph from 1955 to Feb. 1, 2016. Notice the downward trend toward a deep solar minimum and compare it with the sunspot cycle around 1960, when we had a huge solar maximum, the largest in a century. Also notice that in 2009, the number of sunspots was almost zero.

This winter has been very cold.

Well, so far this winter, I can tell you, in a region that I grew up in that my normal experience had more than a metre of snow on the ground, at least, and January and February were averaging daily temps of -25 Celcius, and often had days of -30 or -35, I have enjoyed one of the warmest winters in my nearly 50 years on Earth. So, not every region is being affected in the manner you have noticed in California's coastal areas.

note:
-25C = -13F
-35C = -31F

[Maria]

Here is the latest monthly sunspot number graph from 1955 to Feb. 1, 2016. Notice the downward trend toward a deep solar minimum and compare it with the sunspot cycle around 1960, when we had a huge solar maximum, the largest in a century. Also notice that in 2009, the number of sunspots was almost zero.

This winter has been very cold.

Well, so far this winter, I can tell you, in a region that I grew up in that my normal experience had more than a metre of snow on the ground, at least, and January and February were averaging daily temps of -25 Celcius, and often had days of -30 or -35, I have enjoyed one of the warmest winters in my nearly 50 years on Earth. So, not every region is being affected in the manner you have noticed in California's coastal areas.

note:
-25C = -13F
-35C = -31F

Your friend, Reader Gabriel, also tells me that although they have had snow and freezing weather in Maine, it has been one of the warmest on record.

There is the Jet Stream which is dropping down into California, Arizona,Texas, etc, and bringing snow, while other areas are getting warmer weather.

[Matthew]

Probably this is because the world's ocean currents are slowing and so the heat transfer might be being ill-affected in your region. But still I don't know why that would not thwart things being warmed up here...

[Maria]

Probably this is because the world's ocean currents are slowing and so the heat transfer might be being ill-affected in your region. But still I don't know why that would not thwart things being warmed up here...

Alaska was also warm during the Maunder Minimum during the 18th century (₁₇₀₀ to 1765), the Thames River in the UK froze so that people could ice skate. So, there are regions even during a mini-ice age where regions remain warm. Just about the entire world was cold -- except Alaska.

[Matthew]

I see...I wonder what will happen next. Perhaps they will try some wreckless attempt to warm things back up and cause a runaway increase in global temperatures by over-compensating and using untested techniques or amounts of change agents. Then the bible will be fulfilled.