Comments on: Sunspot update September 2018: Minimum!

By: Phill O

Phill O — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 14:06:41 +0000

Spaceweather.com today had a TCI Thermosphere Climate Index. Something like this is what I was getting at. This may be a great new index. Another index where the surface measurement might be helpful to relay info on cloud and pollution affects!

By: Phill O

Phill O — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 16:42:07 +0000

Thanks Max. I was wondering the TSI at the earths surface as relates to smoke adsorption higher up. This relates to how much heat the earth collects vs clear days. This particular fall in Alberta has seen significant loss of heating both due to smoke from BC fires and cloud cover. Overall, is there an index for how much is the earths total collected energy?

I believe the 0.1% number is not a constant at all wavelengths, is it not?

By: Max

Max — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 19:06:23 +0000

Weather stations only monitor the weather. (temperature and humidity, ect.)
Total solar irradiance (TSI) is useful for such things as the solar race in Australia with EARTH at its closest approach to the sun. Or where to locate solar panels where they are the most effective. (every solar panel manufacture can tell you your TSI for your location)
Satellites measure the suns intensity directly giving unbiased measurement. Several do this like Soho and GLORY…
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Glory/solar_irradiance/total_solar_irradiance.html

A short paragraph,
“During periods of intense solar activity—characterized by peaks in sunspots, flares, and hotspots called faculae—TSI increases by approximately a tenth of a percent. Overall, TSI varies by approximately 0.1 percent—or about 2 watts per square meter between the most and least active part of an 11-year solar cycle.”

Two watts (think night light) per meter squared is not much. Au. solar race usually receives 1000 W per meter or the equivalent of 10, 100 W lightbulbs in Square yard. The sun has never varied more than 1% of this total. This is why the weather is associated with cosmic radiation being attracted by earths magnetic field which increases during solar minimum. For some reason it causes more humidity which reflects more sunlight causing it’s cooler/wetter weather. It also causes more carbon 14. (A big change in atmospheric chemistry affecting pH)
It will be interesting to have real time measurements of this true weather changing event if the prelonged solar minimum occurs.

By: Phill O

Phill O — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 23:25:04 +0000

Does anyone know if weather stations record or monitor the sun’s energy reaching their sites? If so, where can I find an historical file for data? I am thinking of W/m2.

By: Phill O

Phill O — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:48:26 +0000

Bob, you wrote “as this work remains one of the great scientific studies humans are presently pursuing.”

I am thinking this may be one of the great understatements of the decade! However, that is consistent with your mindset of not overplaying a hand due to our lack of knowledge.