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7/01/2011

Haiku Friday - Maunder Minimum


Haiku Friday


Maunder Minimum

The Little Ice Age
The Thames froze over each year.
For seventy years.

Maunder Minimum
Is three hundred years ended.
Is it coming back?



From the year 1645 to roughly 1715, sunspots virtually disappeared. This period of minimal sun activity corresponded with a period of cooler climate and severe winters in Northern Europe. This minimal sunspot period is referred to as the Maunder Minimum - the period of weather is referred to as The Little Ice Age. It is apparent that the climatic change was closely tied to and caused by the reduction in solar activity. Recently, scientists have seen indicators that the Sun is going to skip it's next peak period of activity, which is due in two years. It's 11 year cycle is off. The question is whether or not it's going to last 60 years or more, as the last Minimum did. There's also a question or two about whether or not a true Minimum might offset the effects of Global warming.

There is an ancient Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times.

Apparently, we are all cursed.


Ndinombethe.


I'm going to wait to subscribe to the Linky Tools until we get more participation.

Leave a link to your Haiku in comments.

7 comments:

Nan Sheppard said...

Drat. It's because we just moved North, isn't it? That's what we've been told, anyway.

Tara R. said...

Maybe we should stay in Florida after all.

My haiku is here: Hillbilly

Big Mark 243 said...

That is fascinating stuff. There has to be a good story, a book series, even, in this scientific postulation...

Yve said...

YIKES! Very interesting stuff. Thank you for sharing.

My haiku: http://lazidaisical.blogspot.com/2011/07/invited-guests.html

Grandmother Mary said...

What about Italy? Should I be afraid?

Unknown said...

Quite interesting & a little nerve racking! Cause all of a sudden there are sirens in my neck of the woods! Looks like a storm's a brewin:-(

My entry is Roots

PattiKen said...

Tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, floods, mud slides... Cursed indeed.

I agree with Big Mark. There's story here.