A Prolonged Sunspot Minimum

Finding the sources of irradiance variation at sunspot minimum

In 2006-2007 the Solar Bolometric Imager (SBI) will operate in the polar stratosphere where near-space conditions can be attained for 10 to 30 days. The instrument will provide bolometric (wavelength-integrated light) and color temperature images of the Sun. At the upcoming sunspot minimum, SBI observations will be able to detect subtle sources of solar irradiance variation with the least confu...

Cyclic behaviour of sunspot activity during the Maunder minimum

We study the behaviour of sunspot activity in 16101750, i.e. just prior to, during and slightly after the Maunder minimum, using the new series of group sunspot numbers (Hoyt & Schatten 1998). We apply the delayed component technique and show that, while the transition from the normal cyclic evolution to the minimum was very abrupt, the recovery from the minimum was gradual, proceeding through ...

Flare and CME Properties and Rates at Sunspot Minimum

The corona at solar minimum generally differs greatly from that during active times. We discuss the current Cycle 23/24 minimum from the point of view of the occurrence of flares and CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections). By comparison with the previous minimum, the flare/CME ratio diminished by almost an order of magnitude. This suggests that the environmental effect in flare/CME association differed ...

spectral solar irradiance lower during the recent low sunspot minimum ?

Gps-derived Local Tec Mapping over Peninsula Malaysia during Solar Minimum of Sunspot Cycle 24

The ionosphere is the major contributor of errors in Global Positioning System (GPS), especially during the 11-year sunspot cycle. The incoming 11-year sunspot cycle is expected to peak in 2013. The ionosphere condition is distinctly severe during ionospheric disturbances caused by high solar activity, which raises the question of how will this affect the ionosphere in the equatorial region, es...