Solar Cycle 24 where are you?

The false start announced last year for the new Solar Cycle 24 has been followed up with speculation of things like ‘double dip’ minima and even a new ice age for sunspots.

But let’s try to stay positive and not subscribe to thoughts of another minimum of 70 years, as occurred from 1645 to 1715, the only flat-lining in sunspot cycles since records.

Looking back at the onset of previous cycles that followed prolonged periods without sunspots, gives indication that Cycle 24 may have a much greater start-up intensity.

Should it behave like Cycles 11 to 14 in the 19th century there will be more years rising and a shorter period in decline.

The latest prediction is that Cycle 24 will be begin in mid 2009. Stay tuned.

The prolonged solar minimum is also occurring at a time of reports in the northern hemisphere of continued sporadic-E enhancement on both the ten and six metre bands.

Greyline propagation on HF also is experiencing a lack of geomagnetic disturbance which is a good thing.

Jim Linton VK3PC
Wireless Institute of Australia