NOAA: Sunspot is Harbinger of New Solar Cycle, Increasing Risk for Electrical Systems

(NOAA) - A new 11-year cycle of heightened solar activity, bringing with it increased risks for power grids, critical military, civilian and airline communications, GPS signals and even cell phones and ATM transactions, showed signs it was on its way late yesterday when the cycle’s first sunspot appeared in the sun’s Northern Hemisphere, NOAA scientists said.

“This sunspot is like the first robin of spring,” said solar physicist Douglas Biesecker of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. “In this case, it’s an early omen of solar storms that will gradually increase over the next few years.”

A sunspot is an area of highly organized magnetic activity on the surface of the sun. The new 11-year cycle, called Solar Cycle 24, is expected to build gradually, with the number of sunspots and solar storms reaching a maximum by 2011 or 2012, though devastating storms can occur at any time.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: NOAA, January 4, 2008 ]

Sun approaches Solar Cycle 24, could wreak havoc

(Open Press Wire) - It’s official the NOAA, or more specifically the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rings in a new 11-year cycle of heightened solar activity. The new solar cycle is dubbed as Solar Cycle 24. The major climax of this new cycle is predicted to be in 2011 or 2012. Once the solar cycle reaches it’s maximum level you can expect it to bring greater risk of havoc on things like GPS signals, power grids, cell phones, civilian and airline communications, military communications and a whole lot more.

As stated from solar physicist Douglas Biesecker of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, “This sunspot is like the first robin of spring.” This robin has started to hatch early since a major group of solar experts predicted the cycle would most likely begin in March of 2008. The catch to the prediction was that it could occur 6 months before or after the March of 2008 date.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Open Press Wire, January 6, 2008 ]

Solar Cycle 24 has officially started

(What’s Up With That) - What a day! First a major storm whacks the west coast, now we have the official start of solar cycle 24.

Solar physicists have been waiting for the appearance of a reversed-polarity sunspot to signal the start of the next solar cycle. The signal for the start of a new cycle is sighting a particular kind of sunspot. That wait is over.

A magnetically reversed, high-latitude sunspot, dubbed as number 981, emerged on the surface of the sun today. Just a few months ago, an “All Quiet Alert” had been issued for the sun. This reversed polarity sunspot today marks the beginning of Solar Cycle 24 and the sun’s return back to Solar Maximum.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: What's Up With That, Anthony Watts ]

Solar Cycle 24 Begins

(NASA) - Hang on to your cell phone, a new solar cycle has just begun.

“On January 4, 2008, a reversed-polarity sunspot appeared—and this signals the start of Solar Cycle 24,” says David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center.

Solar activity waxes and wanes in 11-year cycles. Lately, we’ve been experiencing the low ebb, “very few flares, sunspots, or activity of any kind,” says Hathaway. “Solar minimum is upon us.”

The previous solar cycle, Solar Cycle 23, peaked in 2000-2002 with many furious solar storms. That cycle decayed as usual to the present quiet leaving solar physicists little to do other than wonder, when would the next cycle begin?

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Nasa, January 10, 2008 ]

Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle

(Science@Nasa) - Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one.

Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 “looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago,” says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Science@Nasa, December 21, 2006 ]

2012: NASA sees start of “new solar cycle”

(StopThePropaganda.ca) - Here is a MUST READ about Solar Cycle 24 starting in 2012 - from Mark Baard’s ParallelNormal.com. Read some of the interesting comments made on this post. Something to think about. 

Please post any comments about 2012 or links to any 2012 research you have found below.

(ParallelNormal.com) - A bumpy ride ahead for sats and power grids. NASA today published a forecast for a “big and intense” new solar cycle in 2011 or 2012, which its suggests will wreak havoc on satellite GPS and telecommunications, power grids and air traffic. NASA says the next solar cycle, Solar Cycle 24, “could make itself felt as never before.”

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Parallelnormal.com, Mark Baard, December 17, 2007 ]