1. Recent ‘Unprecedented’ Weak Solar Wind: A solar glitch or a harbinger for the next Maunder minimum? Conveners: Joan Feynman* and Janet Luhmann When: Wednesday AM. Session #1 Kickoff speakers: Heather Elliott, SWRI Dean Pesnell, GSFC

2. The Longer Perspective is Key in considering the present From Wikipedia website Why are we surprised?

3. Ulysses found in-situ evidence of a wide band of low latitude/slow solar wind structure, together with weak IMF and mass flux From McComas et al., GRL 2008, also results from Ed Smith et al.

4. C. Lee et al. compared recent L1 data with previous cycle data for a similar phase. OMNI V statistics are similar, but B and N lower (C.O. Lee et al., Sol. Phys. 2009)

5. ..geomagnetic activity is reaching some all-time lows NOAA SWPC website plot

6. ..The still lengthening minimum has led to downward adjusting predictions of the next maximum SSN NOAA SWPC website plots combined in wattsupwiththat cycle 24 blog

7. ..on the Sun, weak polar fields have been an ongoing sign of something different going on WSO data

8. One outcome has been a more multipolar solar minimum corona July 2009 eclipse (Eclipse Images and coronal models from PSI corona website. SOHO LASCO C2 image.) October ‘95 eclipse

9. Sputnik and Explorer 1 launched in 1957 and 1958 respectively, WSO began daily magnetic field observations in 1975, Mt. Wilson magnetic field data archives date from ~1970, etc. (Figure from NOAA SWPC) But have we faced up to the fact that we have very limited cycle experience, space-age wise?

10. ..and not all predictions are on-board with the Maunder harbinger scenario Hathaway NY times plot

11. Over the long haul, even post-Maunder cycles have been smaller than many ‘low’ predictions for cycle 24

12. Nevertheless: -This unusual cycle transition is revealing much about what we know and don’t know about everything from what makes solar cycles vary to what the many consequences are. -What will be ‘unprecedented’ is the coming cycle behavior as a test of solar dynamo theories, and our ability to connect the dynamo with its heliospheric consequences. -Even a healthy blog on this subject has been ongoing for several years …. Don’t miss this ‘stellar’ opportunity to join the debate. Come Wed. AM to give your perspectives and share your knowledge.