So Much Going On

I have been reading an unhealthy amount of news lately. The financial situation, global warming issues, the presidential race, Russia, etc. have me surfing all over the internet in an effort to satisfy my craving for more information. I enjoy reading about all these various topics, except for the presidential race. I don't like the mud slinging, lies, pandering, over-the-top fanatical supporters, annoying pundits, idiotic celebrity interventions, and single-issue voter topics. It's all annoying and excessively partisan. The end result is polarization that causes people to become too emotionally involved and thus often hateful. So, while I'm still reading daily reports on the candidates, it's really not where I like to spend my time.

Instead, I've been focusing on global warming issues and international politics. So, here's a climate update:

The sun is still without sunspots. NASA is to have a press conference:

NASA To Discuss Conditions On And Surrounding The Sun

WASHINGTON — NASA will hold a media teleconference Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, to discuss data from the joint NASA and European Space Agency Ulysses mission that reveals the sun’s solar wind is at a 50-year low. The sun’s current state could result in changing conditions in the solar system.

The sun is the primary driver of our weather, seasons, and climate. There is a near exact correlation between our sun's cycles and our warming and cooling cycles here on earth.


The apparently weakening sun could have a tremendous influence in the near future and thus could theoretically lead us into the opposite direction that most think we're going (warming). The irony is disconcerting.

Something else to watch: the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which is the term used for long-term fluctuations of the pacific ocean, has a profound impact on global temperatures. It is believed that we have now entered the "cool phase" of the PDO after being in the "warm phase" since 1977. It just so happens that the warm and cool phases of this cycle directly correlate to the warm and cool temperatures here in the United States.

-From 1905 to1946, we experienced dramatic heating, especially in the 1930's. We had the Dust Bowl and 4 of the top 10 warmest years in history were in the 1930's. The PDO was in its warm phase.

-From 1946 to 1977, we experienced gradual cooling. Scientists hyped a global cooling crisis. The PDO was in its cool phase.

-From 1977 until recent present, we have experienced a warming trend that peaked in 1998 with a super-strong El Nino. Global Warming alarmists are now a dime a dozen. The PDO was in its warm phase.

-2008 to 2038? Perhaps a major cool down? The PDO has turned "cold."

If you combine the weak sun with the cool PDO phase, we could have an interesting future. One that may sadly produce one of history's greatest ironies.

UPDATE:

NASA's press conference revealed that the solar flares are at a fifty year low (actually, the lowest since the space age enabled us to accurately measure this) and is losing power. If the earth continues to cool down (temps haven't risen since 2001) then more and more scientists may start to pay attention to the sun and its influence on our climate.