Solar Cycle, Maunder Minimum and Pandemic Influenza

We explore the idea that influenza pandemics may arise from the transference of new virions (new sub-types of the influenza virus) of cosmic origin in general accord with the theory of cometary panspermia. Such a transfer process will be modulated by the sunspot cycle and through its role in affecting the interplanetary magnetic field configurations in the Earth’s vicinity. Transfers of virus could take place directly from comets or indirectly from a transient repository represented for instance by the Kordylewski if dust clouds at the L4 and L5 Lagrange libration points of the Earth-Moon system. In either case an active sun appears to be a perequisite for effective transfers. The long remission of influenza pandemics throughout the period 1645-1715, during the Maunder sunspot minimum, might be understood on the basis of our model.

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Regular Motions in the Ionosphere: Electric and Magnetic Relationships

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society ◽

10.1175/1520-0477-42.2.85 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 85-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sydney Chapman

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Electric Current ◽

Electron Density ◽

Geomagnetic Field ◽

Sunspot Cycle ◽

Ionospheric Currents ◽

Electric Currents ◽

Dynamo Action ◽

Ionospheric Electron Density ◽

The Earth

Regular worldwide motions in the ionosphere produce daily varying currents there by dynamo action in association with the geomagnetic field. The changing field of these currents induces electric currents within the earth. At the earth's surface, the combined magnetic field of these currents is measured. The parts of primary and secondary origin can be determined separately. The form and intensity of the ionospheric currents can be found. Their height is inferred from the study of the ionospheric electron density and conductivity; it can also be measured by rockets. The daily varying airflow in the layer bearing the electric current, at heights from about 90 to 125 km, can to some extent be inferred. The motion is due partly to the sun's thermal and tidal action and partly to the moon's tidal action. Many aspects of the magnetic variations and the inferred ionospheric motions are considered in some detail, especially their seasonal and sunspot-cycle changes and their variations from day to day.

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Solar and stellar activity: diagnostics and indices

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921312004589 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 7 (S286) ◽

pp. 15-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Philip G. Judge ◽

Michael J. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Time Scales ◽

Broad Band ◽

Sunspot Cycle ◽

Active Regions ◽

Maunder Minimum ◽

Stellar Atmospheres ◽

Working Definition ◽

Global Magnetic Field ◽

Definition Of

AbstractWe summarize the fifty-year concerted effort to place the “activity” of the Sun in the context of the stars. As a working definition of solar activity in the context of stars, we adopt thoseglobally–observablevariations on time scales below thermal time scales, of ~105yr for the convection zone. So defined, activity is dominated by magnetic–field evolution, including the 22–year Hale cycle, the typical time it takes for the quasi-periodic reversal in which the global magnetic–field takes place. This is accompanied by sunspot variations with 11 year periods, known since the time of Schwabe, as well as faster variations due to rotation of active regions and flaring. “Diagnostics and indices” are terms given to theindirectsignatures of varying magnetic–fields, including the photometric (broad-band) variations associated with the sunspot cycle, and variations of the accompanying heated plasma in higher layers of stellar atmospheres seen at special optical wavelengths, and UV and X-ray wavelengths. Our attention is also focussed on the theme of the Symposium by examining evidence for deep and extended minima of stars, and placing the 70–year long solar Maunder Minimum into a stellar context.

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Polar Magnetic Field Reversals of the Sun in Maunder Minimum

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100064472 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 179 ◽

pp. 193-196

Author(s):

V. I. Makarov ◽

A. G. Tlatov

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Maunder Minimum ◽

The Sun ◽

Annual Rings ◽

Field Reversal ◽

Polar Magnetic Field ◽

Pine Trees ◽

Using Data ◽

Magnetic Field Reversal

AbstractA possible scenario of polar magnetic field reversal of the Sun during the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715) is discussed using data of magnetic field reversals of the Sun for 1880–1991 and the14Ccontent variations in the bi-annual rings of the pine-trees in 1600–1730 yrs.

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