July has arrived and half of the year 2009 is now in the record books. On the surface June seemed to have so much promise but it is clear that we are still very deep in this extended solar minimum.
If you are like me and keep an eye on the sunspot activity daily you were probably thinking things were finally turning a corner. Perhaps they are but June wasn't it. I thought a few solar disturbances lacking a true spot were being called a spot during the month. Now that the official sunspot number for June has been released that appears to be the case. At the end of the day on the 30th I had seen the unofficial sunspot number listed at 6.6. The official number was significantly lower at 2.6.
The sunspot number isn't the only solar indicator that remains very low. The solar flux was the lowest it had been in over half a year at 68.6. I think this is a good indication that the sun remains very stable and that this solar minimum will continue for what could be a very long time.
Just how deep is this solar minimum? We now have 18 consecutive months with a sunspot number below 10. You have to go back to the solar minimum of 1911 to find an equal. We aren't experiencing a never before seen minimum. We just haven't seen one this deep in 90 years. Minimums of this nature were a bit more typical during the 1800's. I will include a link to the data so you can see for yourself.
Historical Sunspot Data: ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/MONTHLY
UNLESS things spark up SOON --
this coming winter will make you miss last winter...
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got firewood ?
I think its too late now. Plus there are the effects of that Russion volcano that dumped a great deal of SO2 into the atmosphere.
there have been more than just one volcano this year pumping SO2 into the air...this winter will be very interesting.
The sunspot numbers seem to mimic 1911. That is the year Niagra Falls froze solid.
http://pierreleblanc.posterous.com/niagara-falls-winter-1911
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got Firewood ?
I know one thing....its hotter than shite down in here in Fort Worth Texas. 104 today. No clouds, no breeze.
Of the 12 days in the books for July we've had 7 days with highs below 80. That is a great month here in Indianapolis. Can't ask for a better July.
Hot and frikin Humid in SW FL too ...
won't be that way for most of us this winter.
welcome to Climate Change.
oops. I need to learn how to use the forum. 
On Sunday (12th), Portland's high temp was just 64. I think that must've been a record but I'm not sure.
Back in my town, I received .40 inches of rain on Sunday, with a high of 66.
69 was the high yesterday.
Mid 70s today though with clear skies.
edit: that rain was actually the first rain we've had since mid June. It's been very dry here this year...a continuation of last year's dry conditions.