A Millennium Scale Sunspot Number Reconstruction: Evidence For an Unusually Active Sun Since the 1940's

The extension of the sunspot number series backward in time is of considerable interest for dynamo theory, solar, stellar, and climate research. We have used records of the Be-10 concentration in polar ice to reconstruct the average sunspot activity level for the period between the year 850 to the pr esent. Our method uses physical models for processes connecting the Be-10 concentration with the sunspot number. The reconstruction shows reliably that the period of high solar activity during the last 60 years is unique throughout the past 1150 years. This nearly triples the time interval for which such a statement could be made previouslyComment: 4 pages, LaTeX, revtex4 macros; Phys. Rev. Let., in pres

The Maunder minimum (1645-1715) was indeed a grand minimum: a reassessment of multiple datasets

Aims. Although the time of the Maunder minimum (1645–1715) is widely known as a period of extremely low solar activity, it is still being debated whether solar activity during that period might have been moderate or even higher than the current solar cycle (number 24). We have revisited all existing evidence and datasets, both direct and indirect, to assess the level of solar activity during the Maunder minimum. Methods. We discuss the East Asian naked-eye sunspot observations, the telescopic solar observations, the fraction of sunspot active days, the latitudinal extent of sunspot positions, auroral sightings at high latitudes, cosmogenic radionuclide data as well as solar eclipse observations for that period. We also consider peculiar features of the Sun (very strong hemispheric asymmetry of the sunspot location, unusual differential rotation and the lack of the K-corona) that imply a special mode of solar activity during the Maunder minimum. Results. The level of solar activity during the Maunder minimum is reassessed on the basis of all available datasets. Conclusions. We conclude that solar activity was indeed at an exceptionally low level during the Maunder minimum. Although the exact level is still unclear, it was definitely lower than during the Dalton minimum of around 1800 and significantly below that of the current solar cycle #24. Claims of a moderate-to-high level of solar activity during the Maunder minimum are rejected with a high confidence level

Long-term solar variability: ISWAT S1 cluster review for COSPAR space weather roadmap

The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is updating its Roadmap on Space Weather. As input for this update, the COSPAR International Space Weather Action Teams (ISWAT) were asked to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art and advancements since the last Roadmap (Schrijver et al., 2015), identifying gaps and opportunities for moving forward within the next 5 years — based on ongoing and planned missions, available modeling, and observational capabilities — and presenting an outlook beyond 5 years and recommendations on reaching long-term goals. While space weather is typically associated with short-term solar activity, knowledge of past solar variability observed and recorded through various parameters, including historical space weather events, informs us about the range of possible solar fluctuations. This long-term solar variability, belonging to the domain of space climate, is the prime focus of the ISWAT S1 Cluster. The goal of this paper is to describe the key objectives of the three S1 Action Teams, summarize the current state of knowledge of the topic that each team is focusing on, and identify the key science gaps that need to be addressed in each area