Keeps on turnin'

Hazy cloud all day meant that this was the best out of a blurry indistinct batch of shots. In a way I will be glad when the Sun stops shining through clear blue skies because I will be able to blip something different! On the other hand I have been enjoying trying to get as many consecutive days as possible to track the changing surface.
Solar activity and climate are linked but not in a straightforward way. Between 1645 and 1715 (the years not the time!) very few sunspots were observed, despite systematic study being well established, and this coincided with a 'little ice age' affecting Europe and North America. This particular period of low sunspot count was know as the Maunder Minimum, there have been other minimums over the period from 1415 to 1820.
Although common sense might suggest that more sunspots, thus more cooler areas on the Sun, would lead to less solar energy reaching the Earth, the opposite appears to be the case. Despite careful and detailed study the Sun has yet to give up many of its secrets!