A solar minimum is determined by the absence of sunspots on the observable face of our beloved star.
Source SDO dashboards.
As a curious fact the first sunspot was observed by a German student of medicine (Johann Fabricius) 1611.
Years later the solar astronomer E.W. Maunder was the one who discovered the scarcity of sunspots between 1645 and 1715 studying the archives of those years. At that period it is known as Maunder Minimum.
Source NASA.
At present we are in the solar cycle number 24 that officially began on January 8, 2008. We will also say that the duration of each solar cycle is 11 years. Consequently the next solar cycle will begin in mid-2019.
Source NASA
What does this mean for us the inhabitants of planet earth?
The reduction of sun spots and eruptions, during this period, gives way to long-lasting coronal holes. This refers to vast regions in the solar atmosphere where the magnetic field of the sun opens and allows the currents of solar particles to escape in the form of the fast solar wind.
In turn the magnetic field of the sun diminishes in its intensity and as a consequence we will have a considerable increase of cosmic rays impacting in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
In the following post I will try to go a little more in detail in the possible effects of the solar wind fast as well as the effects of the increase of cosmic rays.
If you think it's not going to have any impact on the earth, or if you think we're about to live a little ice age, let me know.
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