Abigail Grove, Ashley George, Kayla Abrott, James Cannariato, Taylor Delph

What are Sunspots? 1610: Galileo, Fabricius, Scheiner used telescope Not static formations -- electrically charged gas Travels at 4800 km per hour 4500 degrees C Can last for days/wks Can be as large as 80,000 km Helioseismology: maps solar interior of a sunspot

How do Sunspots form? Strong magnetic fields on the Sun Magnetic “ropes” break through photosphere and plunges into it Photosphere: 400 km deep Dark color associated with cool temperatures Appear in pairs with opposite magnetic polarities –“Leading” spot: N polarity –“Following” spot: S polarity

Counting Sunspots 1843: Heinrich Schwabe 11 year cycle Solar maximum & Solar minimum

Sunspot Activity in Past Years sunspots-to-global-climate/ Continuous daily observations were started at the Zurich Observatory in 1849 Earlier observations have been used to extend the records back to 1610 Currently compiled by NOAA Counted first by groups, then individually

Low Sunspot Activity Sudden sharp decrease in sunspots, beginning in early 2000s During the Maunder Minimum (Little Ice Age period), less than 1 sunspot was observed per year Could another Little Ice Age occur during our current sunspot recession?

High Sunspot Activity Largest annual mean number occurred in 1957, at a count of –London experienced fog and frost during the Winter of 1957 Last solar maximum was in 2000, at Next maximum is predicted to occur in late 2013

Future Sunspot Activity: 2010 As of March 4 th, there were 40 sunspots Highest count of the year: 71, occurring on Feb. 8th

Kayla

Sunspots VS. Greenhouse Effect

 Greenhouse gases Carbon Dioxide, Methane, N2O, CFCs  Short wavelength radiation UV and visible light

Human’s Impact & Solutions The world's output of carbon from human activities totals about 10 billion tons a year natural cycles remove roughly half of human- emitted carbon dioxide, yet significant portions persists for thousands of years. Some triggers deep-sea warming, which raises global average temperature even after emissions halt. U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the world as a whole would have to reduce emissions by 50 to 80 percent by 2050.

Human’s Impact & Solutions Electing government officials who advocate cutting emissions can effectively reduce human’s impact. During ‘08 elections, Clinton and Barack Obama backed an 80 percent emissions cut. McCain supported a 60 percent reduction by mid-century. Continue to elect officials who follow through with plans. Emission limits for Corporations

Greenhouse gases vs. Sunspots What will happen if greenhouse gases continue to build, but sunspots are decreasing? Historically, sunspots have had a far greater effect than any CO 2 emissions have. However, what could happen in years?

Greenhouse gases & Sunspots According to the USGS, as sunspots increase, so does 14 C. Therefore, as the increase in C0 2 continues throughout this minimum, it will be drastically excellerated when the sunspots reappear.

Conclusion DON’T POLLUTE –We must learn to wean ourselves from our CO 2 habits (driving 1 block to a coffee shop instead of walking/biking). –Industry needs to turn green –The electric car needs to come If global warming does sputter as the sun’s energies decrease, than that is an opportunity to reduce the damage we have caused, not a lisence for continued excess

Conclusion continued… If global warming does sputter as the sun’s energies decrease, than that is an opportunity to reduce the damage we have caused, not a license for continued excess.

Sources enough/ enough/ %E2%80%9D.htmlhttp:// 2015%E2%80%9D.html ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/YEARLY.PLT