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Originally posted by cheeser
please provide primary source literature from a scientific journal about the threads allegation, suns heliosphere shrinking by 50%.
what? you cant find it?
Observations of solar wind from both large polar coronal holes (PCHs) during Ulysses' third orbit showed that the fast solar wind was slightly slower, significantly less dense, cooler, and had less mass and momentum flux than during the previous solar minimum (first) orbit. In addition, while much more variable, measurements in the slower, in-ecliptic wind match quantitatively with Ulysses and show essentially identical trends. Thus, these combined observations indicate significant, long-term variations in solar wind output from the entire Sun. The significant, long-term trend to lower dynamic pressures means that the heliosphere has been shrinking and the heliopause must be moving inward toward the Voyager spacecraft. In addition, our observations suggest a significant and global reduction in the mass and energy fed in below the sonic point in the corona. The lower supply of mass and energy may result naturally from a reduction of open magnetic flux during this period.
This year’s solar silence has surprised space physicists, who were expecting the Sun to have moved away from the minimum point of the 11-year solar cycle by now. “To see such a significant and consistent long-term reduction in the solar wind output is really remarkable,” says David McComas, a senior scientist on the Ulysses solar satellite mission, a joint project of the European and US space agencies.
Back on Earth, the Sun’s inactivity ought to represent good news for the companies that operate satellites, run power grids or make terrestrial radio systems, which are all vulnerable to damage and disruption from solar storms. In one interpretation of its long-term implications, however, the effects could be far from benign.
Experts are reluctant to predict the consequences for Earth and its inhabitants because there are so many complex interactions between the Sun’s output, the planet’s atmosphere and magnetic field, and cosmic radiation from outer space. Some climatologists say that, over a period of decades, a quieter Sun means a cooler Earth, although the relationship between solar activity and climate is particularly controversial.
One certain effect of a quiet Sun is that more high-energy cosmic rays from elsewhere in the universe can beat their way through the weakened solar wind and reach Earth. Although these cosmic rays do not arrive in a sudden eruption, like a solar storm, their steady cumulative impact may shorten the lifetime of satellites.
This quiet period would not be a good time to launch a manned space mission beyond Earth orbit, to the Moon or Mars, adds Prof Crooker. Astronauts would face the harmful impact of increased cosmic radiation, which would outweigh the reduced likelihood of solar storms. Another effect of reduced solar activity is a cooling and thinning of the upper atmosphere. This too has an upside and a downside: the reduced drag will enable both satellites and space junk to stay aloft for longer.
The reason for the shrinking is currently unknown, but it is believed that the heliosphere can be affected by other forces within our galaxy. This is a point I have raised in the past and made mention of it in my book. It is my belief that our solar system passes through an area in our galaxy that affects the Sun and all the planets in our system (hence the climatic changes we are, or have, experienced)
Our Solar System orbits our galaxy once every 250 million years (approximately) and it is interesting that a mass extinction occurred the last time this happened (just before the dinosaurs appeared). Is it possible that we are heading for a repeat of this event?
Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- NASA launched its Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or Ibex, into orbit today for an examination of the solar winds that shield the Earth from harmful cosmic rays.
Ibex will give scientists a better understanding of how the solar wind -- made of magnetically charged particles -- interacts with the larger galaxy. The winds have fallen to the weakest level in half a century.
The skeptics are squawking again, their blogs achatter with talk about solar variability and sunspots. According to them, anybody who is anybody in climate science now knows the sun is to blame for global warming. Even the New York Times recently wrote about the low level of solar activity this year and the possibility of a coming ice age. Can any of this be true?
Originally posted by InterestedObserver
Uhhh.... what? Why haven't we heard of this sooner? I really do hope that it's just a natural cycle and not a sign that the heliosphere will begin to completely break up. If it decreased 25% in the past 50 years and it continues to do so, we'll be toasting around... hmm... 2060? Wonderful.
Originally posted by TH3ON3
Originally posted by InterestedObserver
Could the latest decline coincide with the decreased period of solar activity as of late?
I don't know. It is a very strange relationship between the sun and the heliosphere. I know something is definitely changing, and we see it in the very quiet sun spot activity being reported during a supposed solar maximum activity period.
As for equating it to the end times, that is what it says in the Bible. I am quoting in the correct context.
Another fascinating passage concerning the end times in the Bible is where it says knowledge will greatly increase and the "chariots" (cars) will jostle (drive) back and forth.
The prophet was seeing cars, but could only compare it to what he currently knew to be similar...thus the chariot description.