wattsupwiththat.com/2008/10/11/significant-cycle-24-sunspot-group-emerges -> wattsupwiththat.com/2008/10/11/significant-cycle-24-sunspot-group-emerges/
This spot looks to have some staying power other than the "specks" we've seen winking on and off lately. No squinting to see this one, or wondering if it's a dead pixel in the SOHO CCD imager or not.
The polarity is correct, with the white "North" at the top. This spot grew quickly as it came around the rim into visibility. Watch this animation below: At the same time, to the right of the image, at lower latitude, a new cycle 23 sunspot seems to be emerging, note it has a reveresed polarity from the larger SC24 spot.
solar 12 responses to "Significant Cycle 24 sunspot group emerges" 11 10 2008 Pamela Gray (10:03:15) : Leif reminded me that the solar magnetic field is still at its lowest. It would be interesting to see if this activity mirrors that of the magnetic field strength. From the EIT imagery from SOHO, there seems to be a hint that there may be another storm waiting to emerge. Now, perhaps, we'll start seeing how the predictions hold up.
Leif Svalgaard (10:42:03) : Pamela Gray (10:03:15) : Leif reminded me that the solar magnetic field is still at its lowest. It would be interesting to see if this activity mirrors that of the magnetic field strength. You have to make a distinction between the magnetic field of the sunspot and that of the solar wind hitting the Earth.
The occurrence of new cycle spots will tend to destroy the magnetic sector and when those long-lived streams finally disappear, we can really say that we are in the new cycle. The new activity will also help screen out GCRs, so their flux will decrease. Since you check Oulu, you might have noticed that the last year or so there has been a persistent 27-day variation that by now seems to be diminishing. This is due to the demise of another high-speed stream on the other side of the Sun than the one we are getting into today. The disappearance of that stream is another sign that the end of SC23 is nigh.
pdf 11 10 2008 J Ward (10:43:31) : More to come very soon. Working backwards from a general NH, UK focussed weather forecast; January - ^as above February - ^as above March - colder than recent Marches and dry. A massive amount of atmospheric (especially NH) water vapour has precipitated out during the recent rapid drop in temperatures but there is some more to come. The SC24 spots can only increase in size and frequency now. I would be amazed to see more than a very few, very small SC23's. Just before, and sometimes just after, planetary alignments.
Leif Svalgaard (11:17:08) : J Ward (10:43:31) : I would be amazed to see more than a very few, very small SC23's. Just before, and sometimes just after, planetary alignments. I'll refer you to the extensive discussion in just about any and all previous 'solar' threads and pray that we can keep this thread clean.
but you should be able to capture the image and ask eg Kinko's or similar outfit to make a poster. I use the image as Desktop Background for my computer, so have it in constant view.
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