First spotless month in a century

edknowsall would know that the energy that he uses comes at a price! man has accelerated global warming.

Remember that I said I would believe it when I saw it on Spaceweather.com?

http://www.spaceweather.com/

This is from Spaceweather.com Today Sept 5,2008

"AUGUST SUNSPOTS: Contrary to reports, August 2008 was not the first month since June 1913 without a sunspot. August did have a sunspot

There has been much speculation in the "solar blogosphere" about the length of the ongoing solar minimum. The sun has been mostly blank for a long time and people are wondering when the next solar cycle is going to begin. Some observers claim we're entering a climate-altering minimum of historic proportions.
There's no evidence to back up these claims. As far as anyone can tell, the ongoing solar minimum is historically normal. New cycle spots are slowly beginning to appear and, indeed, the disputed sunspot of August is one of them. Its magnetic polarity places it in Solar Cycle 24 expected to peak in 2011 or 2012. If the sun remains blank for another year, it's time to re-think our assurances, but for now, all is well."

So there you have it.

To see the image of the Sunspot visit Spaceweather.com

we are the equivalent of microbes on the surface of this planet.
Perhaps its just bad use of words, and not an example of your knowledge...no offense, but microbes attack, inhabit and kill many living things. If humans are equal to microbes than we would cause disease and eventually kill the host we inhabit, ya know just like microbes do. oops
Fresh air and clean water is good for humans.
and everything else that co-exists on and with this planet.
again no offense.

How many times to scientists have to say it's solar cycles and not us causing the climate changes?

Fresh air and clean water is good for humans.
But if you think we are killing the climate? Wow. Brainwashed. Thank you Mr. Gore. And while I'm at it, I am so glad you invented the internet. (Is that also the one that the military used before it went public too?)

OK, so what else happened in 1913, weather-wise I mean?

Why can't global warming be a combination of man and nature? I think the mass quantities of pollution are going to make our climate change occur sooner and be extensively more difficult to cope with. It's VERY important that we change our consumption habits now.

Ozone holes? How passé. The problem with man's contribution has already been dealt with. The hole regularly tends to form in August before it fills again in mid-December, but the size it reaches is dependent on weather conditions. Sounds like the primary influence on the ozone hole is natural phenomenon.

I 'd like for all those who dont believe in man made global warming explain the ridiculously sized ozone hole in the poles and what consequences it has on our planet...Oh and by the way even if you are just being born right now, the CFC's released in the atmosphere in the 50's will still be devouring ozone for a long time after you have shuffled off....Maybe those that denounce man made Gl.Warm. want to have an ozone hole right above their hometowns? But dont worry because its not the hole that will fry you, its the sun. Now the big glowing thing in the sky, our own little star, has of course its own role in how it releases its energy..But considering all the scientific data and not opinions GW is a man made phenomenon in its entirety...Oh and did you know that the moron that invented CFC's is also responsible for TEL the additive that made petrol leaded and caused so many deaths?...

Think most people are aware of the fact that the sun is the main cause of changes in the climate....seeing how it's almost our only source of heat. Pretty sure i learned the cause of season changes in 2nd grade. This doesnt prove that global warming is not a reality. Man caused warming is obviously very suttle compared to the impact of the sun''s heat. This, however, does not mean a change in the earth's climate by a few degrees cannot have a severe impact. We should let nature run its course and try to minimize our impact as much as possible.

Wow. Wonder what this means.

Previous to this period of no sunspots, there was a period of increased sunspot activity.

Will be interesing to see how scientists explain this.

Oh look, it's that big glowing orange thing that's driving earth's temperatures.

the sun is acne-free horray!

I would like my room painted in that color!!

but what does it all mean?!?!

It's perfectly normal - we're in the middle of the period of least activity in the 11 year cycle.

When I see this on Spaceweather.com then I will believe it:)

Cool. If any one is ever interested in space from the Sun to events that we can see from Earth go to spaceweather.com

it looks like a Yema ball for me (a Spanish sweets)
It looks yummy : )

Good point, SDLN...through all of this we never even consider their opinions :P

I wonder how they counted sunspots before technology advanced? Tell me that wouldn't be the worst job ever, just staring at the Sun.
It doesn't matter, the Sun is still hot without spots.

I wonder what the people on the Sun think of this.
;)

What's interesting is that this is said to have been signs, in the past at least, of impending ice ages (or a 'mini ice-age, as the article states), and as of right now our planet is going through a rapid warming, resulting from our own actions, at least in part. Maybe since we're increasing the rate that the Earth is warming up, it's canceling out the the whole cooling phase?? Guess we'll find out.

While environmentalists are busy putting 90% of climate change evidence on the back of human development, other scientists are finding evidence that suggests we may not have the global influence many assumed.

Scientists have found evidence that supports the position that the Earth's relationship to the sun has more influence on weather patterns than the exhaust exiting our car tail pipes. The sun's cycle of fewer sunspots over the last few decades may be having a significant impact on our weather.

My personal opinion has been that 'global warming' is only for getting politicians elected, getting government funding, and getting people to buy new products; but, this doesn't release us from the obligation as a society to be efficient and to be careful with our resources and to be protective of our fellow inhabitants.

To me, these experts' opinions bolster my belief that 'global warming' is more than humans being 'green', and is instead about a planetary body with its own future--of which we are only a small part of the timeline.

Maybe this is the preparation for the mega spot...

Get ready to ride the solar wave..........

Ride on!

i thought that sunspots where a sign of a healthy sun, what does this mean?

So, is this a sign of an impending supernova?

Wait, what about all the climate skeptics saying that the sun is causing global warming. This definitely gives them a way to hedge their bets. The sun is going to make the climate warmer... or cooler.

One month out of 10 billion years of its life... that's like someone holding their breath for a few seconds. How is that considered a milestone?

So maybe there is a mini ice age on the horizon. We could use one to reverse some of the glacier and Arctic & Antarctic ice melting.

well i guess we don't have to worry about global warming anymore. maybe this will cause an equilibrium haha.

It's caused by man made global warming and GWBush.

hah, thats not the sun. thats what pharaoh man throws at you in megaman 4.

is this along the same lines as when the ocean was so calm and then retreated before the tsunami hit?

So fresh and so clean!

Of course the aliens that are arriving on october 14th
are planting the seeds of peace all over our solar system on their way past the sun what would you expect.