Cecil,

We might indeed be approaching a Dalton Minimum, if not a full scale
Maunder Minimum. Much like AGW, there is a strong East-West dichotomy
in predictions. The NASA-ESA solar gurus have in the past been
predicting a good cycle 24 followed by a poor cycle 25. By contrasts,
the Russians have been predicting that cycle 24 and 25 will be very
low. The NASA predictions out of MSFC seem to be converging toward
the Russian values. We shall see.

Somewhat OT, but last year I taught a General Class license course.
The standard illustrations of the sunspot cycle are basically good and
better. I added in some historical data showing the Dalton and
Maunder Minima. It was fun to watch the wide eyes.


--
Alan
WA4SCA