The Grand Solar Minimum will cause clouds

Grand Solar Minimum – Research Astrophysicist Dr. Zharkova Warns…

The Grand Solar Minimum will cause clouds

Baby, It’s Gonna Be Cold Outside

– Guest post by “Anony Mee” –

It’s an exciting time to be a research astrophysicist. Our ability to see deep into the galaxy and closely at our celestial neighbors improves every year.

AI has exponentially increased computational ability; and we are on the threshold of witnessing a Grand Solar Minimum.

This is an article mainly discussing Dr. Valentina Zharkova’s talk October 2018, before the Global Warming Policy Foundation.

Professor Valentina Zharkova:
The Solar Magnetic Field And The Terrestrial Climate

She also did a follow-on summary interview with the grand solar minimum channel which can be seen on Youtube.

 

The Scientist – Dr. Zharkova

Dr. Zharkova is a theoretical astrophysicist currently working in solar plasma physics at Northumbria University in England.

In 2005, she completed a project for the EU and created a set of Solar Features Catalogs for solar cycle 23 (1996-2005). Given this compendium of data, Dr. Zharkova and her team set about finding out what conclusions could be drawn by examining this data.

 

The Science

“Using a summary curve of two eigen vectors of solar magnetic field oscillations derived from Principal Components Analysis from synoptic maps for solar cycles 21-24 as a proxy of solar activity, we extrapolate this curve backwards three millennia revealing 9 grand cycles lasting 350-400 years each.” (Zharkova et al 2017)

In other words, it’s very complicated.

Zharkova and her team, building layer by layer upon verified research, discovered a method that accurately describes historical solar activity. It can can be used to predict future solar cycles.

In doing so, they found, in 2015, that a Grand Solar Minimum would begin in 2020. It will last until 2053-2055.

Further research since then has found that their conclusions regarding the solar dynamo are verified not only with their science, which is replicable, but also by research conducted independently by helioseismologists.

They also described a solar oscillation caused by the sun’s response to the largest planets which produces yet another terrestrial heating and cooling cycle lasting around 2,600 years. We are currently in the heating phase of that cycle which will continue for another 500 years.

 

Impact of Cosmic Waves

Solar activity, like sunspots, flares, and solar winds, serves to push cosmic radiation away from the Earth. [Ken adds: ‘Cosmic radiation’ mainly originates outside the solar system]

The solar magnetic field also protects the solar system from bombardment by cosmic rays.

During the Grand Solar Minimum the solar magnetic field which drives solar activity will be significantly reduced, thus allowing more cosmic particles to reach the Earth.

A study released in 2018 showed that cosmic radiation readings since 2013, as we approached the upcoming Grand Solar Minimum, were 30% higher than readings in previous solar cycles.

Recent research indicates that the electric charge of cosmic rays striking the atmosphere forms aerosols (clusters of molecules) that become seeds around which water droplets condense and create clouds. Dr. Zharkova expects significant cloud cover during the Grand Solar Minimum.

 

Possible Associated Volcanism

Observation shows that volcanic activity somewhat mirrors solar activity.

Research indicates that solar activity results in the bombardment of the planet with a variety of particles and rays.

It is postulated that these impacts cause imperceptible movements in Earth’s crust that very slightly relieve tectonic stress. This is why most of the largest volcanic explosions have occurred during periods of lower solar activity.

If this Grand Solar Minimum has the extremely low levels of solar activity predicted, the possibility of large volcanic eruption increases, which would bring the discharge of fine particulates into the atmosphere. This would further increase cloud formation and cooling.

 

The Conclusions

– The Earth is in a warming cycle that man can do nothing about.

– During the Grand Solar Minimum, solar irradiance will decrease only slightly.

– The solar magnetic field will be reduced with about 70% fewer sunspots thus temperature will decrease and cloud cover will increase.

– Due to lower temperature and increased cloud cover, Dr. Zharkova predicts a shortage of vegetation period from 2028 to 2032 and recommends inter-governmental efforts to create a stock of food to feed people and animals and prevent disaster.

– After the Grand Solar Minimum, things will “return to normal.”

 

The Controversy

The IPCC, a group of scientists that supports the belief in human-caused accelerated climate change, while disparaging much of this research, never-the-less reduced its temperature rise prediction by about 60% a few years ago in reaction to it.

Dr. Zharkova’s response to her detractors has been “well, it’s very near so we will see who is correct”. It is inevitable that all those for whom climate variation is an article of political faith will declare that the upcoming troubles associated with the Grand Solar Minimum are the result of human activity. Dr. Zharkova states unequivocally that this will happen whether or not there are people.

Tin hat folks will shout about a coming mini Ice Age. Dr. Zharkova predicts a weaker and shorter minimum than Maunder’s of 1640 to 1715.

 

The Preppers

We often discuss the possibility of this or that disaster and that is why we prepare. I believe that this prediction is much less speculative.

I most likely won’t live to see the end of next year’s Grand Solar Minimum. But our next generation and their kids and grandkids most likely will live through it.

I think it behooves us to prepare as best we can to survive the cold and the clouds, and the reduced agricultural production, and to have our progeny come out okay the other side. How shall we accomplish this? What do you think?

P.S. – Shout out to Mrs. USMCBG and others who have kept a focus on this issue.

– by ‘Anony Mee’

103 Comments

  1. Global warming seems to be a good thing if its going to get cold. It seems buying grow lights would make a good prep.

    My question is how well will solar power work in A) the cold and B) the reduced energy from the Sun ?

    1. Solar panels work BETTER when it’s cold.

      The reduced solar radiance (in my estimation and research) won’t be enough to affect panels in any significant way (watts per square meter). One could add additional panels too.

      Though significant cloud cover certainly will / would be an issue! (as suggested within the article).

      The main thing is reduced crops/agriculture. Food shortages and probably high priced food…

      1. Solar panels will produce with starlight. Just not very much. Given enough panels it could be viable.

        1. Should have added, cloud cover diminishes output but does not entirely stop it.

        2. Starlight? That’s minuscule. I’ve been living with solar panels for more than a decade. Starlight will not run your fridge ;)

          Cloud cover is highly variable. On a heavily overcast day, my 4KW system may be reduced to 200 watts (as an example). My batteries will only get a fraction of charge on cloudy days.

        3. Ken,
          You probably already posted it somewhere…
          But what type of backup do you use on those non productive days of low solar output?
          A genny to charge the batteries back up? A genny to run the house while you charge up batteries?
          You have a decade of working knowledge.
          What works best for you?

        4. Bill Jenkins Horse,

          1) My battery bank. It will run ‘essential’ loads in the house for a few days, depending on season and other criteria.

          2) Generator. I have the ability to recharge my battery bank with a generator.

          3) Grid. I am also connected to the grid. I can recharge by way of grid power.

          Future: I may look into wind power. If I can find one with fairly low ‘turn on’ (wind speed), and if the price is right, I may integrate that as well.

        5. Thanks Ken for the input.
          My issue is I have buildings in many different places on the homestead.
          I have done steps to lower power consumption.
          I put skylights in the house, shop,cabins to bring in light during the day. Changed out lights with LED’s on your recommendation.
          Running stoves,heaters dryers on propane. Using 12 volt bilge style pumps for each cabin, central laundry/shower area
          My grandson and I built rocket stove style water heaters for the central showers and laundry area.
          I will have to put stand alone systems for each location. They are too far apart to wire together.
          Sealed batteries…do you believe the extra cost is justified?
          I have the lead based batteries at my shop . You have 10 years of actual usage so I really value your opinion…thanks

      2. I have been researching more/different growing methods this week..I found a site on you tube…mentioned by Arms Family Homestead. N old gardner/green house manufacturer…been at it 56 years.. has a grow tub system made from largely throw away items. Gardening with Leon.. check it out. will be easier than building raised beds. Molasses Tubs are designed to hold 5-6 gal.of water…with a hole punched in on side…and two short pieces of 6 inch pipe in the bottom covered with landscaping fabric to form a wick.. use lightweight potting soil plant in soil water in and cover top with pc of landscape fabric. it also has a 1 inch pc of pipe put in to be a fill tube for water w/ liquid fertilizer mixture. He also shows a hydroponic cucumber in 55 gal barrel. shows one unfertilized and then turns camera on some others you should see his.houses….
        I have already been working on rice stash, and am working toward some stability and increase in the percentage of our food production.

        1. Just sayin’,
          Doing the research as well. Food production and food security are a priority.It’s better to work out the issues now.

      3. Ken, I was referring to battery output in the cold. That could change the power to be…..I guess the battery room could be heated if it gets too cold. I mean you are talking extreme low temperatures.

        1. @Defcon,

          Lead acid batteries are affected by temperature (the effective capacity/efficiency vs. temperature – cold being worse).

          Living in a northern (cold) climate, people with battery bank systems will typically keep them indoors but inside a vented battery box.

          I went a slightly different route with AGM batteries (they’re sealed – not requiring venting) and also keep them indoors.

    2. Solar works best when it’s cold and bright. The hotter the panels get the less they produce.

  2. Thus we shall have
    Man made Climate Change.

    How can I make a buck off this??

    1. Solar panels will produce with starlight. Just not very much. Given enough panels it could be viable.

      1. That was already posted, I don’t know why it did it again.

        As far as making a buck off of it. Invest in white rice. It’s cheap now, lasts forever and will be worth a lot more in the future. If I was a younger guy I would buy tons of it. As it is I’ll probably be gone to natural causes before this starts to have an impact on crops.

        I could be wrong there. The way the weather has been behaving who knows. Torrential rains could drown many crops. I had a nice patch of corn going a few years ago that was flattened by unusually high winds for our area. Too many variables.

        Water issues could be just as important as temperature and available sunlight.

    2. But yet I am the one who discovered the internet.
      Universities pay hundreds of thousands to let me speak of my BS to a mindless crowd.
      Where do I fit in??

      1. I met you back in the 90’s. I was protecting you from harm as you gave a speech in front of a ghetto Jr. High School with it’s newly installed “Gun Free Zone” signs that you helped champion as V.P.O.T.U.S. Of course their was no one present to hear your speech except your security detail and the press corps, since the school was closed for the summer vacation. I’m sure it was a good speech, even though the microphone didn’t work. By the way, the signs must have been defective, school violence seems to have skyrocketed since their advent.

  3. What a good and concise article. Great Job. I watched the Zharkova video. Much was over my head, but when she talked about discovering the curve it made sense and that it was a light bulb moment for her.
    Buy Grain………………………..

    1. Mrs USMCBG
      I agree, grains and sprouting seed
      Maybe even protein powders etc

    2. Thank you. Very kind of you to say so. I had to giggle at the 500 more years of warming. Those poor acc folks will never be satisfied and will never learn unless they acknowledge that the sun warms the earth.

  4. From Spaceweather.com.

    Quote : “The biggest change may be cosmic rays. High energy particles from deep space penetrate the inner solar system with greater ease during periods of low solar activity. Indeed, NASA spacecraft and space weather balloons are detecting just such an increase in radiation. Cosmic rays can alter the flow of electricity through Earth’s atmosphere, trigger lightning, potentially alter cloud cover, and dose commercial air travelers with extra “rads on a plane.” Unquote.

    Even NASA are seeing this – already in 2019

    1. Les Francis
      That is an excellent site,
      Love looking at their aurora galleries

  5. Thanks for the very interesting article Anony Mee . The volcano information was enlightening . I do not grow wheat ,rice,oats or a lot of dried beans so I had better stock up a little more. Perhaps a green house would be in order. Good stuff to think about and be aware of .

  6. Anony Mee,
    Thank you for the update article on this topic. Big take away for me is Dr. Zharkova’s concern for a possible vegetation reduction between 2028 and 2032. Likely factor would be reduced growing period and cooler temps. Maybe preparation for this would be to stock grain and veggie seeds used to produce in northern areas. I’m thinking those of us in the middle of the country in USDA zones 5-6, start stocking seed for zones 3-4 . Might be fairly easy right now to get Canadian varieties of grain (wheat, milo, canola, etc.) and put into long term storage. I think many of the production seed growers may be looking ahead and thinking they may have to adjust also, but why take a chance? We just need to stock seed for any eventuality.

  7. Interesting
    I don’t know anything about this subject. This is a great start!

  8. I talked about this with a sibling who immediately made plans for making sure their retirement home (they retire in a couple years) is stocked with five years’ worth of flour, grains, pulses (beans), and garden seeds. Same with a neighbor.

    Since watching this talk I’ve adjusted my planning to ensure long-season crops will be on hand for people and livestock. Not likely that I’ll live to see 2053, but most probably 2032.

  9. I know people say there is no such thing as a stupid question, but I’ll try to be the first. In one section of the article, it says “We are currently in the heating phase of that cycle which will continue for another 500 years.” In another section, the article states “The solar magnetic field will be reduced with about 70% fewer sunspots thus temperature will decrease and cloud cover will increase.” Are these conflicting statements? Am I comparing apples and oranges?

    1. The warming/cooling cycles of the EARTH last approximately 140,000 years. The magnetic cycles of the SUN are much shorter. The way the planets and the sun interact are again a different cycle (2600 years, we’re in year 2100 apx). You’re talking about different cycles which sometimes work together and sometimes against each other. Similar to the way the rotation of the earth and the pull of the moon work together to create the tides.

      In a nutshell: The earth is on a warming trend. Part of the warmth of the earth is created by the magnetic field of the planet and how it interacts with the magnetic field of the sun. Weaker magnetic field = cooling trend (short term). Like dropping a chunk of ice into boiling water, it will create a short term and mild decrease in the overall temperature, but if the heat continues to be applied it will melt and the water will boil again.

    2. Hi MARS

      So many factors influence climate here on Earth. According to some scientists 99.96% of our climate is driven by the sun. The scientific literature is dense with details. Oscillations in Earth rotation, tilt, orbit around the sun, in the sun’s surface and subsurface activity, movements of other planets, etc create all sorts of cycles that are reflected in our climate and meteorological/geological records. These cycles range in length from a couple years to 2.3 million years.

      Might help to think of an uphill drive on a washboard road. Gaining elevation (heating phase cycle), bouncing over the unevenness of the road (sunspot cycle) then you hit a pothole (grand solar minimum).

  10. MARS,

    Short answer. We’ve (the planet) been in a warming cycle since the ice age (the one with mammoths and cave men hunting with spears). Since then, during this warming cycle, there have been periods of cooling due to solar minimums (one of which was on it’s way out, but caused the brutal winters experienced during the American Revolution), followed by continued upward trends in temperatures (blamed on human activity by global warming alarmists). The cycle will continue despite all efforts to interfere.

  11. Like us specs of dust will make any difference to the earth in the blip of our existence in the mlllennia of time. Humans sure think they are very important in this universe – ha

  12. 2028 to 2032. Hmmm. Maybe I’d better build myself a big green house. It’s possible I may live that long. May be to old to take care of it, but at least I’ll have it. LOL.

  13. I saw news articles last year that we were in the solar minimum which was why a bunch of people predicted a colder than normal winter. Now, all of a sudden it doesn’t start until next year. Kind of reminds me of the doomsdayers. It is always next year or the year after. Supposedly there is science behind it. But again I thought we were already in the solar minimum.

    1. My big worry is a pole reversal. The drift of the North Pole has been increasing in recent years. Evidently it is heading towards Siberia. Evidently the pole has been changing so much that mariners are having to update their GPS systems more often. I am talking about the magnetic North Pole not the geodetic North Pole.

      1. They had to readjust the GPS systems twice over the last five years. Usually those adjustments are made on a 10 year cycle. The south pole is moving north to meet it. It could be a big deal if the system decides to go pop and the poles flip, which could happen any time in the next 100,000 years. Or tomorrow.

        Not really a big deal (except to humans), this happens quite often. The sun itself sometimes sports four or more “poles,” then flips back into what we consider standard.

    2. Hi INPrepper

      Could be. Sunspot activity has been declining pretty fast in our current solar cycle which is coming to its end. Over the millennia solar cycles have gradually shortened and, in any case, vary slightly in length from cycle to cycle. This may well be one of the shorter cycles.

      We’re now headed into three consecutive cycles where solar activity will remain very low hence a grand solar minimum.

  14. EXCELLENT article! I too, have been shouting this from the rooftops to everyone I know to prepare for what is ahead. Cold times are a-coming. Not to mention the volcanoes and earthquakes. The last solar minimum New Madrid went off, I believe. I am kinda expecting it to go off again during this one also (tho I pray it doesn’t). I have had many discussions with our kids here who are hardening their farm for the coming cold, insulating barns, water pipes, building greenhouses and cold frames, etc. Our son just installed a wood-burning stove in his shop building to be able to work out there in some comfort. With 10 acres of their land in woods, he has a good supply of fuel. Also, some family have decided to leave the northern states and relocate to the southeast and some to the southwest of the country. They want to get established now in their areas. Another thing I have been thinking about is with the prospective earthquakes increasing, I think I want to dehydrate more meals and pack them in mylar in buckets, and do less canning in jars. Jars break.

    Stock up on seeds, especially seeds for the colder zones. I’ve been ordering some for the one zone colder than I am here. This is the first year I have grown successfully in the greenhouse with no additional lights and minimal heat. Mainly cold-weather stuff; radishes, greens, lettuces, beets, etc. I don’t bother with anything warm-weather like tomatoes and cucumbers, etc. Depends on where you are. You may have more success at those crops in your area. I also ordered quite a few row covers for the garden beds to extend growing seasons.

    One more comment on the GSM…the discovery that our atmosphere layers (mesosphere and thermosphere layers) are already shrinking at a faster rate than the scientist thought they would; meaning that this event could be either coming faster than they thought it would, or it will be even more severe and longer-lasting than they thought it would be. Hence, the next generation will be facing many struggles here. For more information search tube for John Casey videos, especially “Cold Sun.” Good info in his talks. And Iceagefarmer.com follows crop losses around the world. Gives you the big picture.

    Haven’t commented much lately, but still here and reading all posts and comments. You all give me the courage to continue with this lifestyle even when my DH is no longer on board with much of the lifestyle. Hey, he wants to golf. I hope he can do it in snowshoes, lol!

    God’s peace and blessings to you all.

    1. I am watching the soft winter wheat that is grown in our area. There has been so much rain and clouds. Curious to see how the wheat progresses. Last year about half of the crop was lost due to severe lasting cold.

  15. The sky is falling – again. Run to the hills or hide in your bunker. Fear Is everywhere but calmness and common sense is no where to be found!!!!!
    As an engineer- physicist (age 74), I have seen public panic(Y2K for example) multiple times and I say just “Give this fear mongering a break”.

    1. Uh, this isn’t “fear mongering.” You don’t find that on this site. And, why don’t you go see what AOC is up to? Have a nice day.

    2. Texas Boy,

      I don’t disagree with your comment, at least not completely. You’re a little older than me (5 years), and maybe a little wiser, but like you, I’ve experienced a lot of bumps in the road of life. Some were pretty big bumps. I was able to plow through them, survive and learn lessons from them. One of the lessons I learned was that, while I can’t always know exactly when or what possible catastrophe might slap me in the face, I can try and read signs that might indicate what’s coming, and prepare accordingly. Try and lessen the impact when and if what I anticipated materializes. I, and I believe most others here, don’t live in constant fear of the future, rather, we try to anticipate possible problems before they occur.

      I don’t have a bunker. Truth is, I’m my family’s bunker. My job is to protect them and get them through any attacks, violent or the more mundane. Spending time conversing and sharing with folks here on MSB helps in my endeavors. Absorb what I deem useful, file away for future reference what I don’t.

      Think I’ll spend some time on the range today if it warms up a little. That won’t help anybody but me, but then, it ain’t gonna hurt nobody because I’m telling them of my intent.

    3. Texas, was one of those that didn’t sweat Y2K. I knew of a few people who were a lot more worried about it than me. To each his own. I am fine with that. However, I knew that Y2K was going to be a non issue because of one word ‘MONEY’. To many people had too much money invested around the world to risk losing everything because of a programming defect that would roll over a date to 1900. If I had $50 or $100 million (I wish) invested in markets, I would be hollarin to the companies to fix that problem. Or, if I was a government that invested or loaned money to a foreign country, I would do my darndest to make sure I would get paid back the money owed. Then again, I didn’t worry about Y2K because I didn’t have any money other than a modest emergency fund in cash at that time. So, I believed if there was an impact on me, it would be minimal.

    4. Texas, awareness is never chicken little. Knowledge is never chicken little. Preparedness is never chicken little. Sort of like insurance. We have it and Hope we never need it.

    5. The Grand Solar Minimum coming is probably not fear mongering. It doesn’t hurt to prepare for the possibility. Yes, people are silly and panic a lot, I have seen it to, as I am only 2 years younger than you. We joke around a lot here, but most information here is good.

  16. Chem trails. Do I have it right? They are suppose to keep the warmth in. If so are the powers that be shouting warming when it is really cooling? Ohhh Climate Change, makes them correct either way.

  17. Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
    In 2007, someone predicted that by 2014 all of the Arctic ice would be melted. Last I read, the ice caps are growing.
    I think that the key word is ” theoretical “. Theory comes from the Greek word theoria, meaning to contemplate , or speculate. Just because someone can rationally explain speculation, does not mean that it is scientific fact backed up by research.
    Although you are free to speculate all that you want, as it can provide for some interesting conversation.

    1. CR, for sure as only the powers that be really know for sure.
      Genesis 1:14, And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

  18. Anony Mee;
    Very well and informative article;
    As one with a Science and Astronomy background Plus a Computer Programmer at one time, I can appreciate the Science involved with the predictions and FACTS that this old rock has been heating and cooling for somewhere around 3 Billion Years.
    I do chuckle at most anyone that does not have enough sense to listen to Fact and not the likes of AOC the Bartender.

    I guess the question becomes does one try to Stockpile enough “stuff” to outlast the next “Big Chill” or do we simple adapt to the upcoming events. Sure we can store food for a few years, than what? Remembering that 90% of the country has 3 days of food and water; all alone 3 weeks, 3 years or 30 years.

    For those that don’t thing the Science is there to predict such an event, I have no concerns with that, tis your choice, as is 700 rolls of TP mine (metaphor BTW).

    SOOOO if/when the Big Chill happens in a year or tomorrow at 2:46pm, I’m heading to ‘hermit-us’s house for a few decades.

    Again Anony Mee good article and GREAT food for thought.
    Thanks

  19. Peer-reviewed research supporting such an event?
    Probably the same as global warming.
    americanthinker.com “Peer-reviewed study finds that majority of scientists are skeptical about global warming crises.”

    1. Hi CR

      Since you’re commenting on this site I take it you are engaged in a preparedness lifestyle to some extent. That’s a very wise and good thing.

      If you’re truly interested just look up Dr. Zharkova’s publication list; it will include the names of the journals and you can determine if they meet your peer review standards.

      1. I think we need to differentiate between peer reviewed and consensus. A peer review is something where a hypothesis is independently examined, critiqued, and tested with an attempt to duplicate and generate the same results thereby confirming the hypothesis by credentialed experts. It is analyzed from a non biased point of view leading the replicated results to determine validity. Emotion and beliefs should not exist when peer reviewing.

        A consensus is where a group of peers or industry all agree the data and results are valid and independently verifiable. Emotions and beliefs should not be present when doing a peer review or by a group consensus. Because, if someone believes something should be a certain way they may give certain data points more weight or focus more in one area and neglect others.

        Global warming is an invalid consensus where almost all the data proving global warming is not peer reviewed and where emotions and beliefs are prevalent. The big thing with global warming is most people proclaiming global warming are not experts. Taking a geology 101 course or ecology class does not an expert make.

        Then, the biggest thing is replication of results. Almost all models predicting global warming can not be replicated. That is due to data being altered or removed to fit a desired outcome or calculation errors. In science, just because something is believed to be so does not make it so.

        I would not consider a political analyst or a green peace protester to be experts when peer reviewing climatological data. Global warming is not science but a political agenda. Ohhh wait, it is now Climate Change. Well guess what? The climate on this planet has been changing since its initial formation.

  20. Hi NRP

    You betcha. I find Dr. Zharkova’s work convincing and trust the science enough to think she may well be the Joseph of our time. Rather be prepared to endure a few years where cold and cloud cover interfere with long-season crops than not. The “new normal” for the next couple decades may well be uncomfortable, with even more empty shelves and prices increasing far faster than income.

    And that’s without any other catastrophes that may come our way.

  21. Not trying to be contrary, perhaps it’s that I don’t understand.
    Science- Fact which can be proven by experiment.
    Theoretical- Concerned with ideas on which a subject is based, rather than with practice and experiment.
    That could possibly exist, happen, or be true, although this is unlikely. Oxford Learners Dictionary of Academic English.
    All that I’m seeking to find out are the Peer-reviewed facts discovered by experiments based on scientific laws.

  22. NRP, I assume that you did not see the top of the article which stated that Dr. Zarkhova is a THEORETICAL astrophysicist, whose suppositions are based on principles and ideas, rather than facts. Suppositions such as these belong in a science fiction magazine/website (IMO), rather than on a website of this nature where mostly level headed individuals tend to congregate for meaningful content and analysis.
    But this is Ken’s website, and he can have/allow whatsoever content he so chooses.

  23. Hi CR

    Ditto on the not being contrary part. However, a more exacting read of that entry is “knowledge about the structure and behaviour of the natural and physical world, based on facts that you can prove, FOR EXAMPLE by experiments” (emphasis mine). They can also be proven through observation.

    In the conference video Dr. Zharkova talks about how her team worked for years to develop a descriptor formula that would reliably yield the documented observations of solar activity. When they were part way there they saw that at least one observation was unaccounted for and so considered other possibilities and included other scientists and reached out to correlate their findings with those in associated disciplines. I appreciate that level of transparency and open-hearted type of collaboration.

    Honestly, this has changed my views. Am happy to sit around the campfire and speculate into the wee hours about economic decline, civil unrest, America’s enemies and what they might get up to, whether the Cascade range will ever fully activate. . . And my preps til now have been “just in case” and “hope to never need them”. That the world, whose population has increased by 50% in the past 30 years, may face a reduction in basic food production for even a few years scares me.

  24. Anony Mee,
    Was reading recently about indoor farming. Producing substantially more on a fraction of the normal outdoor acreage. Also using a fraction of the required water. Using LED lighting .

      1. BigBadCat
        A while back in Mother Earth there was an article about an under ground tiered growing platform, like a hot house but under the ground so that the temperature stays within a certain heat index.

        1. BigBadCat and AC, another option is a Walipini.. go to you tube and put walipini in you tube search bar.

        2. There’s a YouTube video of a man in Nebraska who grows oranges and other citrus using a geothermal method. He pushes air through tubes placed 8 feet underground to both heat and cool his greenhouses. Not sure it would work here with the water table. Will have to see.

      2. BigBadCat,
        I’m building vertical towers and A frames to do staggered horizontal hydroponic troughs.
        I have done alot of research and have visited others using these systems. I will put them in greenhouses eventually.
        They are productive. You can learn to control the environment.
        The issue is being able to put enough crops under cover. The initial cost and setup. Being more than a subsistence farmer for most will be difficult. Not impossible but difficult.
        Price a 40’x100′ greenhouse and you will understand.
        There are 37 people in the group now.(with the new babies.)
        That’s alot of food/calories to provide. It’s daunting, believe me.
        I prefer to be conservative in my plans. If I expend time and assets to improve yield there is no downside.
        If the weather is just a fluke and it stays good then I will probably have a surplus. If the weather conditions continue to change in a bad way then I hopefully have worked out the bugs and we eat.
        I’m not waiting for politicians and the scientific community to “settle the science “.
        I gather the intel and make my own decisions.
        And I decided food security is a priority…

        1. BJH: Sounds like a lot of work, but sounds exciting and adventurous. Hope you grow lots. I only have a very small space for vertical. Enjoy my big garden in back yard though.

    1. My main concern would be that indoor growing is very resource intensive, requiring lights, fans, and all kinds of other fancy gadgets. If they can’t get electricity (i.e., no oil) those farms fail bigtime. If people are relying on them, they starve.

  25. How about using the abandoned malls around the country for indoor community farms!

    1. CR, good idea and make sure they have guards on duty to stop theft, Ohh Socialism will take care of that. Everybody singing Kum ba ya.
      Well the idea is good.

      1. A lot of those malls have glass ceilings (well, not glass-glass, but transparent) and plenty of floor space. Even without heating that would probably provide a 1-2 zone buffer for planting.

  26. Thanks for this article. I have been researching this topic for awhile & there are numerous researchers who agree with Zarkova. As a Canadian from the prairies, a colder area of Canada outside the Arctic, I realize we here could be in a good deal of hurt in a few years. I also have been trying to find shorter season veg. seeds. I live in a 2-3 zone and we can now grow successfully warm weather crops such as corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers but if in time, frost free days shorten it could be difficult. Of course we are growing varieties that are short season already.

    In the maunder minimum they had many years with warm summers just cool & wet spring & falls. I think I mentioned before, that those who grew cabbage, root crops, & rye ( I presume fall rye) were the most successful. I have a Swedish Brown bean that will mature as a dry bean in our climate. Comes from my Swedish husband’s ancestors so it was developed in that northern country. We have a number of garden seed companies on the Canada prairies that produce seeds suitable for zone 2-3. The one I use is called T & T Seeds. I’m not related to them in any way but find their seeds good for our area. Hopefully those looking for shorter season crops will find a supplier that is suitable for your area.

    1. Hi,

      Where can I find information on climate/weather zones, NOAA site or other? I see commenters mentioning ‘2-3 zone’, etc, but don’t know what that means with respect to climate (what you live in) or weather (what you experience). I am interested in what the central Puget Sound zone would be. Thanks

      1. DLS, look on a seed package.. they are referring to a planting zone.. I am in the south in zone 7 a or b depending on the area elevation i use to grow. so my search has been for seed that will do well in zone 5 or even 4…hope this helps put in agri planting zone in search bar with the name of your nearest city…should give you an answer.

      2. DLS,
        The growing zones spoken if are USDA Plant Hardiness zones. If you google it for your area, you will find a map with the zones. Locate your home, find your zone.

      3. DLS
        If you are in the area where the water inlet comes in around Everett-Seattle is 8b. If you need to check yourself go to climate growing zones for Washington.

      4. Hi DLS

        The National Gardening Association has a nifty tool – you put in your zip code and it gives you your USDA zone. Lots of other cool info there too.
        garden (dot) org/nga/zipzone/

        Disclaimer: not a member but do use their info

  27. Good article, AnonyMee.
    Gives us a good (lack of) food for thought.
    This, along with current and forth coming natural disasters diminishes our food productivity.
    This article is a wake up call to find different means for our own individual food growth. Not only for us, but including livestock needs.

  28. Let them be astrophysicists so we know they have at least a working knowledge of solar mechanics and cosmic phenomena.

  29. Way to much importance has been placed on green house gases in current climate models. Current climate models do not properly take into account Space Weather. This is why main stream climate alarmists end up wrong and scratching their heads.

    How many more times will they be wrong before they figure this out…

    1. Current climate models use a flat earth. Just too complex the other way, apparently. SMH

  30. in 2018 we had a growing season with rain 4 out of 7 days all year . Hay was difficult and the price was doubled . Minimums cause drought in the south west and too much rain here in the midwest . The lady just may be a prophet .

  31. Following up on this I listened to a recent interview this week. Dr Zharkova relates that during the 2018 late spring England had three weeks of snow on the ground and very low temperatures. The Siberian storm that brought the snow lasted 10 days. After two weeks, the country had max’d out its power capacity and asked businesses to turn off their heat.

    She said that she has been asked to give a presentation on what to expect during these coming dark cold years at the end of solar cycle 25 and the beginning of cycle 26 @ 2028-2032. She is even more adamant that people need to be prepared to ensure they have heat and food during these times.

    Video can be found here:
    Part 1 (interview starts at 6:50)
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sCm9FOSNE8I
    Background

    Part 2 (interview continues at 1:38)
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mxS64XdSklg
    Story at @ 22:30 – 27:00

    Interviewer is Romanian, but the interview is conducted in English.

  32. For those who might be interested

    Dr. Zharkova and her collaborators have published their paper in the journal Nature:
    Oscillations of the baseline of solar magnetic field and solar irradiance on a millennial timescale

    nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45584-3

    While peer-reviewed and published, there are scientists that disagree with some of the the science and the conclusions of the paper. Here is a website that provides discussion space for scientists post-publication.

    pubpeer.com/publications/3418816F1BA55AFB7A2E6A44847C24

    The conclusions are as earlier discussed, with more specificity in the details. Solar activity cycles run about 11 years, with grand solar cycles occurring about every 350 to 400 years. We are just entering a grand solar minimum expected to last 35 years.

    Solar-caused terrestrial warming and cooling cycles run between 2100 and 2400 years in length; we have about 580 years left in the warming phase of the current cycle. They project an increase in Earth’s temperature by about 0.5 degrees C every hundred years or about 2.5 degrees C (4.5 degrees F) more by the year 2600. They do not address the topic of human-caused accelerated climate change that is all the current rage.

    So, overall it’s going to get warmer and our far distant progeny will be growing wine grapes in Scotland again, just like during Roman times. Then it will cool off again. Perfectly natural cycles. Just preparing for the Modern Grand Solar Minimum bump in the road.

  33. Stand My Ground

    Good for you!
    These scientists, and gradually more and more as they examine the science, say the Earth is warming over the next 580 years, whether or not there are any humans. They also say that every 350 years or so we will have a GSM. The Modern Grand Solar Minimum just happens to be starting now. They predict the years 2028-2032 will be dark and cold enough to impact agriculture. This GSM will be comprised of three solar cycles so temps will continue to rise and fall and we will have El Niños and La Ninas too over every 11 years. Just a narrower range. Solar brightness is not expected to decrease by an perceptible amount, though cloud cover will increase.

    While I think that human-accelerated climate change is basically hooey, there is an aspect to be considered. I remember how bad the air pollution was in the early 1970s, as I could drive and had friends in SoCal. It was even worse a decade earlier when the Clean Air Act of 1963 was signed into being. Lots of pollution in parts of the country, lots of smog. And for the next 27 years just about all we addressed was what we could see – the particulates.

    Well the pollution was made of particulates and green house gasses, some of them toxic. Gasses lent heat to the atmosphere but particulates had a negatory effect on heat gain by providing both reflection and shade. Got rid of most of the particulates but didn’t address the gasses until around 1990. So, yes, there was some warming and some acid rain. But in the years since, those have largely been addressed in this country. That’s why, in my book, the climate scientists are in a state of confusion. Yes, the Earth is in a warming cycle; for a few decades there was a slight increase in that warming; now we’re back to normal warming. In 2600 we’ll start cooling down again, if anyone cares.

    Although I prep with worst case in mind, and hope we never see it, it’s also to be ready for the very real likelihood of GSM impact

  34. For those following this topic there’s a new article out. . . .

    tallbloke.wordpress.com/2019/06/25/zharkova-uses-solar-planetary-theory-in-new-paper-predicting-earth-temperature-rise-to-2600-following-imminent-grand-solar-minimum/

    It summarizes the most recent paper be Zharkova et al and includes a link to it.

  35. So I spent my first half hour picking up trash. It was garbage day and cans have to be out by six, so essentially night before. Well, last night’s freak howling windstorm is still going on. Big recycling bin was almost full, and everything in there required to be loose – no bags. Empty plastic containers, aluminum cans, small boxes, milk cartons. Looked like garbage truck picked up to empty during a gust. Must have seemed like that scene in Twister where they finally get Dorothy to fly. Lightweight recyclables EVERYWHERE! Got the giggles imagining it.
    . . . .

    I know I sound like a broken record but if these two years of bad weather hit us this hard during the relatively shallow initial dip of the modern grand solar minimum then what are we facing during the longer bigger dip in a few years? Truth be told, am very concerned.

  36. Dr. Zharkova has released an opinion paper predicting a1^C drop in Northern Hemisphere temperature during the modern GSM.
    . . . .
    tandfonline (dot) com/doi/full/10.1080/23328940.2020.1796243
    . . . .
    Note that the temperature decrease during the Maunder Minimum was 1 to 1.5^C. Maunder was about twice as long as the modern GSM is predicted to be.

  37. Hi cid
    . . . .
    According to Dr Zharkova the Modern Grand Solar Minimum will last 35 years from 2020 through 2055.
    . . . .
    The sun has a variety of different cycles all proceeding at the same time. Winter 2019-2020 was the end of solar cycle 24 and the beginning of 25. For the next 5 years we will experience some of the usual warming that occurs during these 11 year cycles. She has predicted that this GSM will bottom out as we shift to solar cycle 26. The five-year period 2028-2032 may be so dark and cold that vegetation may be significantly impacted. She said in 2018 that she’d begun to warn governments to stockpile food for animals and people.

  38. Dennis, Thank you for your kind words on my article. . . . americanthinker.com/articles/2021/04/dark_cold_years_are_coming_so_youd_better_get_ready.html
    . . .
    Of all the threats we face I believe a global famine due to GSM is the one over which we have the least control. We can guard against cyber-terrorism. We can work to lessen aggressions among our adversaries. But if crops fail year after year and we as a nation haven’t prepared to cover the gap between supply and demand, people will starve. GSMs historically bring famine and social collapse. It’s hard to imagine. The 1929 stock market crash coupled with the dust bowl years gave us a taste. I pray I’m exaggerating, but fear I am not.

  39. NH Michael, Thanks. Just scratching an itch, giving in to a compulsion to warn people about what’s coming. I think the science on this is solid, so we know. And we have historical records going back many centuries that tell us what to expect, more or less. Nevertheless, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of significantly reduced harvests on a global scale continuing for years. Even though I come from parents and grandparents who were largely food self-sufficient, and have seen my share of countries suffering from regional food shortages.
    .. .. .. ..

    Issue haven’t touched on yet is security. Folks in need will turn wherever they think they can find food – producers, processors, warehouses, stores, small farms, even their neighbors’ gardens and homes. Urging everyone to begin to garden, if they take heed, will lessen the pressure on us all. That’s what I’m doing with my neighbors out here and friends/family elsewhere – encouraging them to look to their and their families’ future needs. .
    .. .. .. ..
    This article is getting some serious blowback. There are folks who just don’t like this message. And others who don’t like that I recommended the guv get involved. Well, how else are 330,000,000 people going to manage this crisis – each on his/her own? Especially since 80% live in urban areas. Anyway, it’s good to be a member of a preparedness lifestyle community. Thanks, Ken, for MSB. BTW – American Thinker does not pay for articles. .. .. .. americanthinker.com/articles/2021/04/the_coming_modern_grand_solar_minimum.html

    1. The “blowback” is coming from the north end of a south-bound horse. People who haven’t done their research or trusted that “research” = watching NPR Science. As you said, the science is sound.

      I don’t think that getting the .gov involved will help, primarily because it’s full of a lot of bureaucrats with axes to grind and a stake in the status quo. It would be nice if we could put aside human nature and trust our leaders to do the right thing, it won’t happen. If we had leaders like that the oil, coal and food reserves would still be reserves rather than a dollar amount on a balance sheet.

      1. Lauren, Thanks. I think we have to invite our political leadership to partner with us. Everyone’s got buttons. Just need to push the right ones to get action. Hope the articles fall into the right hands. I know I’ll be writing to my local, state, and federal representatives.

        1. Maybe we could do something on a state or local level, but I doubt it. Our current governor is the hand-picked successor of the LAST governor, and just as deep in the swamp as any DC bureaucrat. Certainly the swamp will never go hungry, nor their families, no matter what happens to the rest of the country.

          The mayor, who somehow won over the 24 year deep swamp creature who was there before, has been under attack since day 1 and now the OLD mayor is funding the campaign of his opponent. The sheriff is a swamp creature as well, and untouchable through connections to the (old) mayor and the (old) governor.

          The city council (and the county council) were hand picked by the old mayor during his 24 years in office and will do anything he says, up to and including flat out lies and smear campaigns.

          Once in a while a good one gets in, but they’re quickly side-lined in favor of those who will do what they’re told.

          I don’t know the solution. Maybe you’re our Joseph who can convince Pharaoh that it’s in his best interests to prepare.

    2. Anony Mee since you referenced 330 million people your only speaking to the current population of the USA as the worlds current population is around 7.9 Billion.

      As Robert Heinlein said in The notebooks of Lazarus Long “Never appeal to a mans “Better Nature” he may not have one, Appeal to his Self Interest for that’s a sure bet.”

      Thus to get people in power to do something you need to address their Self Interest.

      Sadly the current population of the USA will drop to well below the ability of our country’s ability to feed ourselves due to violence, disease and starvation due to mismanagement of resources. 3 days with out safe water = death. Disease is *still* #1.

      Got your sanitation plans TESTED and worked out I hope? Closing the sanitation loop with the fertilizer loop safely using Jenkins Human manure system is important.

      BTW if your NOT getting Blowback then your message was a waste of time :-)

      Keep writing Anony Mee, the word HAS to get out there.

      1. NH Michael, actually was speaking to the criticism of my being a bureaucrat. This will be a global food shortage phenomenon and I think it’s come upon us a little earlier than expected. Hit a little harder than it might have, at first, with lowered harvests being exacerbated by fallout from the pandemic – production, processing, shipping, due to illness and closures and stupid political gamesmanship.
        .. .. .. ..
        I’m concerned that the beginning of lower yields, as it probably will happen gradually at first rather than dramatically, is getting lost in the covid noise.

  40. Anony Mee:
    Just took a look-see at your article over on AT.
    Well done, Well written.

    Late wife was a Physicist that worked for a bit at Langmuir Labs in Astrophysics Research along with Meteorologists and Climatologist, talk about smart people… I was the dude that got them a glass of water at times. HAHAHA

    Honestly people do NOT want to know what’s really happening to the Solar System and with the Climate on this little rock we live on.

    All these Climate Change BS fools that spew their ignorance they have NO idea whats really going on.

    Humans have ZERO effect on the Climate in the big scheme of things. Yet we develop the power (Nukes, Chemicals, and Diseases) to completely destroy live here….. Humans are stupid and dangerous, not only for ourselves but for all life as we know it here.

    UGHHHHHH

  41. Mrs. U, You asked about increase in solar activity the other day. The Modern Grand Solar Minimum is predicted to run for three solar cycles – 25, 26, and 27. What will make it a grand minimum is not a cessation of solar activity but lower highs and more sustained lows of activity during each cycle. Zharkova’s trough of solar activity during this GSM is predicted to start on the down slope of cycle 25 into cycle 26 and to continue for some years, 2028 – 2032.

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