ecofriend.org

Australia: Sunspot cycles to predict droughts, floods

Australia should get ready to prepare itself for the heavy rainfall later this year and in 2008. New scientific research says this after studying the links between the sun’s magnetic pulse and Earth’s climatic systems.

Atmospheric circulation, the cause of weather, is driven by the sun’s energy. The link between sunspots, solar magnetic activity and increased rain occurs through interaction by solar activity with Earth’s atmosphere to increase cloud formation.

Weather effects of changes in the sun are additional to the impact of climate change from greenhouse gases.

The theory submitted for publication in the journal Solar Terrestrial Physics is based on physical models of sunspot behavior, which showed correlations between sunspot minimums and eastern Australian droughts over the last 100 years.

To explain it more clearly, it is based on correlations between Australian rainfall and 11-year peaks in the sun’s magnetic emissions, and switches in the sun’s poles, which also occur every 11 years. The last flip occurred in 2001.

The sun is now in a similar position in terms of its magnetic field as it was in the 1920s, says Robert Baker from The University of New England. Eastern Australia this year and 2008 is seen to follow path similar to the particularly wet years of 1924 and 1925.

2009 would be the next period of potential drought in Australia, Baker predicted.

After the present cycle of increased sunspot activity, the following cycle will be dominated by the lowest activity from sunspots and magnetic activity in 100 years. This raised the possibility of extensive drought in the 2020s.

The theory will help in better predictions of droughts and floods. The model could also be used as a significant decision-making tool in agriculture and natural resource management.

To know more on the issue:

Solar Activity: A Dominant Factor in Climate Dynamics

Via: CRIEnglish

Image courtsey: Zebu

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top