Ask yourself: Will The Grand Solar Minimum Impact Us?

The Grand Solar Minimum is coming up a lot in the news these days. And we are once again faced with what news story is real and what is not. Are we headed for an ice age? Or are we not?

FIRST OFF: WHAT IS THE GRAND SOLAR MINIMUM? (GSM)

The Sun goes through changes in energy output and there is a predictable low activity level where there are fewer sunspots over an 11 year period. As the Sun becomes quieter, we experience the “Grand Solar Minimum,” and the last time this happened, it coincided with a period called the “Little Ice Age” which happened in 1650 to 1715 in the Northern Hemisphere.

HOW BIG OF AN EFFECT WITH THE GRAND SOLAR MINIMUM HAVE?

NASA says, “In terms of climate forcing – a factor that could push the climate in a particular direction – solar scientists estimate it would be about -0.1 W/m², the same impact of about three years of current carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration growth. Thus, a new Grand Solar Minimum would only serve to offset a few years of warming caused by human activities. What does this mean? The warming caused by the greenhouse gas emissions from the human burning of fossil fuels is six times greater than the possible decades-long cooling from a prolonged Grand Solar Minimum.”

If you read NASA’s recent article, it explains that there is NO IMPENDING mini-ice age. Again, NASA reports, “A new Grand Solar Minimum would only serve to offset a few years of warming caused by human activities.” Ironically, it seems our carbon emissions are balancing out the impact of the Grand Solar Minimum. In other words, pollution may aid in preventing a cold snap, that could have cold-climate consequences. I didn’t see that coming. Did you?

On the other hand, while some like NASA state that the Grand Solar Minimum will have little to no impact, there are others who have gone so far as to move south from Newfoundland, to avoid cold climate and possible food shortages believing that the Grand Solar Minimum will have a catastrophic impact. Is that taking it too far? What do you think?

WHO IS RIGHT?

Things get muddy because whatever you try to prove, you can find evidence to support it. This, coupled with the fact that science is ever-changing and, therefore, so are facts, makes finding TRUTH a challenge. On top of that, people often believe what best serves them in the moment. Alas, we do the best we can with what we have.

The Grand Solar Minimum is a fascinating discussion, and we should learn everything we can about it. If mainstream media would educate rather than dramatize we would actually have a hope of understanding matters like this and have intelligent conversations about them. Anything tainted in fear is destructive. Everything tainted in hope and possibility is constructive. Let’s start there and demand something much higher of ourselves and what we ingest from the media.

Have you researched the Grand Solar Minimum? 
What do you think? Come to your own conclusions….

On another note, the world stopped moving with COVID, and the earth healed from emission pollution. How has that dramatic reduction impacted the planet and global warming? What is emission reduction going to mean in terms of temperature changes from the Grand Solar Minimum? What exactly happens with fewer emissions? The truth is we don’t really know and those that. moved south may be onto something. I posed the question to NASA for the answer, and we’ll see what they have to say in a follow up article.

The GSM is something to keep an eye on, it may impact us all, and it may have no impact at all. More information, more science, and time will tell.

NO MATTER WHAT, we don’t want fear-mongering and conspiracy theories; we want as much science and predictive future modelling as possible.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR NEWFOUNDLAND?

When faced with changing weather conditions and super bugs like COVID, we all need to ensure our safety and our food supply. More than ever, people are now in the mindset of creating gardens at home and ensuring the supply of their own locally produced food. That’s smart, and it is a start.

Newfoundland is in a unique position to be a local and global supplier of food. And not just any food, the superfoods that keep people extremely healthy. Things like turnip, cabbage, carrots, blueberries are all part of a healthy superfood staple. 

With over 20,000 backyard farms in the province right now and many more to come, we could not only be prepared for any weather fluctuations but also have a backup plan for future changes in food conditions. 

If we have learned anything from COVID, it is to be prepared and have a backup plan for our health, food, and the future.

More of this story to come on OUR GREAT MINDS –TheOGM.com

IF THIS TOPIC INTERESTS YOU…

If this topic interests you and you have information, scientist and experts in this area, I’d be very interested to know their thoughts. Please forward to Tinaolivero@theogm.com

SOURCES & GRAPHICS:
NASA Global Climate Change – Vital Signs of the Planet
https://climate.nasa.gov
NASA/JPL-Caltech