Sun entering weakest cycle since 1928

[wolfhnd]

The sun has entered its weakest cycle of magnetic activity since 1928, meaning fewer solar flares and coronal mass ejections, scientists predicted in a May 8 teleconference. A panel of solar scientists assembled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center reports that the cycle, which scientists believe began in December 2008, will peak in May 2013.

Solmaz Barazesh ScienceNews

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic ... since_1928

[DrCloud]

It's important to be careful in interpreting this, particularly for non-specialists.

"Sun entering weakest cycle" in this discussion applies to the sunspot cycle, not how strong or weak the Sun is, in terms of its solar energy (yes, there is a correlation, but the energy variation is quite small). HPH