Scientists and researchers all over the world are predicting that our Earth could experience Pleistocene Era/ Ice Age again or even a Little Ice Age could be well around the corner, where most places on the earth were covered with thick sheets of ice and included North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and some parts of Asia. But what has made the researchers predict this?
If most places will be covered with ice, wouldn’t it be difficult for human species to survive on this planet when temperatures will be as low as -50°C?
Relax friends!! There is nothing to panic about... This Ice Age or dip in temperatures could be due to Solar minimum that the Sun is going through or about to experience.
Now what is Solar Minimum?
It is a phase in the Solar Cycle that repeats itself in approximately 11 years. The Solar cycle is the cycle that the Sun’s magnetic field goes through every 11 years. It starts with Solar Minimum ( reduced solar activity) and ends with Solar Maximum ( increased solar activity), and again the Solar Cycle gets repeated.
• Solar Minimum—Least sunspots on the Sun.
• Solar Maximum—Most sunspots on the Sun.
Sunspots are dark, relatively cooler spots that form on the Sun’s surface. But these are cooler and look dark only in comparison with other surfaces on the Sun’s photosphere. By counting the number of Sunspots, astronomers predict whether the Sun is going through Solar Minimum or Maximum. During Solar Minimum, the Sun gives off less energy and reduced magnetic activity is observed on the Sun’s surface whereas in Solar Maximum, the Sun’s energy level is at its maximum and gives off more ultraviolet rays. It is also observed that during Solar Minimum, the Sun’s north and south magnetic poles switch places when Magnetic field of Sun is at its lowest. The reason which leads to the Solar Cycle is still beyond the understanding of astronomers and researches are continuously in progress to understand the same.
What impact can these phenomenon have on Earth??
As the Sun is going through or about to experience Solar Minimum, this means the Sun will radiate less energy and heat towards the Earth. This could cause massive drop in temperature on the Earth’s surface, rainfall will be impacted, and in the absence of rainfall famine could occur.
Is it a cause of worry??
According to NASA- “The warming caused by the Greenhouse Gas emissions from the human burning of fossil fuel is 6 times greater than the possible decades-long cooling from a prolonged Grand Solar Minimum. Even if a Grand Solar Minimum were to last a century, global temperatures would continue to warm. “ So, this Grand Solar Minimum would pass away without affecting us much, thanks to the Global Warming!!