Space.com: A couple years back, scientists were predicting that the next peak in solar activity would be among the strongest in modern times. Now they say it could be the weakest since 1928.
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Why the change?
The sun has been very, very quiet lately. This unusually long, deep lull in sunspots forced the revision, the panel stated. Some have even raised the possibility that the quiescence could lead to a Little Ice Age, as the sun pumps less energy our way. Scientists say that's very unlikely.
That extra CO2 in the atmosphere may prove useful.
UPDATE:> Over at WUWT, David Archibald graphically compares the current solar minimum with the Maunder Minimum, the one that corresponded with the Little Ice Age.
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