Solar poles to become quadrupolar in May

[lovuian]

Solar poles to become quadrupolar in May
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/T120420005829.htm
The Yomiuri Shimbun

Magnetic field polarity at the solar poles will reverse and become quadrupolar in May, meaning positive fields will emerge in the North and South poles and negative fields will emerge on the equator, according to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and other institutes.

When a similar phenomenon occurred about 300 years ago, the Earth's average temperature fell slightly.

A research team led by Saku Tsuneta, a professor at the observatory, analyzed solar magnetic fields data using Hinode, an observational satellite, and confirmed that the polarity of the magnetic field at the North Pole began to reverse in July last year.

[Odin2005]

1. I hope this means that we have a cool summer.

[lovuian]

2. I think it does

and here in Texas
it seems to be following this

[Zalatix]

10. It's already in the 90s here. Over 100 in Phoenix.

Let's hope this thing causes a SUBSTANTIAL temperature drop, lol.

[lovuian]

3. Another Article

Per the Japanese HINODE team — in about one months time — (may 2012) the suns north pole will reach a reading of “zero” and instead of a regular “pole shift” .. it will form into MULTIPLE positive poles — thus making MULTIPLE negative poles which correspond to these new “north poles” … .. this is happening a year ahead of the expected “nominal” time.


http://hinode.nao.ac.jp/news/120419PressRelease/index_e.shtml

High latitude magnetic fields have been observed with solar telescopes on the ground. However, actual process of the polar field reversal is poorly understood because of the difficulty of the observations on the extreme limb combined with atmospheric seeing effect. The solar optical telescope aboard the Hinode satellite allows us for the first time to perform extremely high-quality observations of the deep polar region of the Sun (Figure A). The initial discoveries include that there are many magnetic patches with intense magnetic field in the polar regions. Their field strength is close to that of sunspots, and their size is as large as small sunspots called pore.

The international research team led by Saku Tsuneta, a professor at NAOJ, has been performing the monthly polar observations with Hinode from September 2008. We here report the discovery that the average magnetic flux of the north polar region is rapidly and steadily decreasing during the period of 2008 and 2012 (Figure B). The reversal (from minus to plus polarity) is taking place in sequence from lower latitude to higher latitude. The average magnetic flux of the polar region soon becomes zero. The estimated completion of the reversal of the north polar region will take place in 1 months or so, about one year earlier than the nominal expected reversal time.

[FraDon]

4. what impact will it have on …

access to the innertubes and 'lectronic stuff?!

[lovuian]

8. That is a great question

since 300 years ago we didn't have computers

[warrior1]

5. It's all ready over 90

in Sacramento.

[JVS]

6. Is this going to fuck up compasses?

[obxhead]

9. Only if you are on the surface of the Sun,

at which point you probably have much larger concerns to deal with.