Perhaps this could be a prime moment to solidly prove the Electric Sun model, while they're scratching their heads looking for answers.
Here's an official notice from NASA asking for information to help them figure out what's up with this prolonged minimum.
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/vie ... 0CCMSC.pdf
Maybe the 'Thunderbolts project' could co-ordinate and produce a march madness slam dunk of a paper to get the Electric Sun model recognized.B.9 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE MINIMUM OF SOLAR CYCLE 24
Clarified March 10, 2009: All references to "Solar Cycle 23" have
been updated to "Solar Cycle 24." Reference in Section 1 to "Solar
Cycle 22" has been updated to "Solar Cycle 23."
1. Scope of Program
In 2009, we are in the midst of the minimum of solar activity that marks the end of Solar
Cycle 24. As this cycle comes to an end we are recognizing, in retrospect, that the Sun
has been extraordinarily quiet during this particular Solar Cycle minimum. This is
evidenced in records of both solar activity and the response to it of the terrestrial space
environment. For example:
Causes – Solar output
• Lowest sustained solar radio flux since the F 10.7 proxy was created in 1947;
• Solar wind global pressure the lowest observed since the beginning of the Space
age;
• Unusually high tilt angle of the solar dipole throughout the current solar
minimum;
• Solar wind magnetic field 36% weaker than during the minimum of Solar Cycle
23;
• Effectively no sunspots;
• The absence of a classical quiescent equatorial streamer belt; and
• Cosmic rays at near record-high levels.
Consequences
• With the exception of 1934, 2008 had more instances of 3-hr periods with Kp=0
than any other year since the creation of the index in 1932;
• Cold contracted ionosphere and upper atmosphere; and
• Remarkably persistent recurrent geomagnetic activity.
Thus, we have an unprecedented opportunity to characterize the quiet/background state of
the heliosphere when the solar source function is as close to the ground state as it has
been in the modern era.
NASA’s Heliophysics Division wishes to facilitate study of this special period. This
ROSES element thus solicits proposals to study the Causes and Consequences of the
Minimum of Solar Cycle 24 (CCMSC). Proposals are encouraged that take advantage of
this opportunity with studies of domains ranging from the center of the Sun through
terrestrial and planetary space environments to the boundary of the heliosphere. High
priority will be given to studies addressing the interaction between various regimes.
Taking maximum advantage of this opportunity will require interaction between
specialists in different regimes. Selected Principal Investigators will have responsibilities
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for both their own specific research and for participation in a yearly workshop where all
the CCMSC investigators will be brought together to explore the implications of their
own work for other regions. Proposals should address both of these responsibilities.
2. Programmatic Information
2.1 Budget Information
The Heliophysics Division has identified a total of $4.5M for support of this opportunity,
available over a three-year period. We thus expect annual funding of $1.5M to be
available for support CCMSC investigations. This is a one time only solicitation.
2.2 Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria specified in section C.2 of the NASA
Guidebook for Proposers. These criteria are intrinsic merit, relevance to NASA’s
objectives, and cost realism/reasonableness.
The determination of a proposal’s relevance shall include the contribution of the
proposed investigation to understanding the causes and/or consequences of the very low
solar activity minimum of Solar Cycle 24, including also the degree to which it addresses
the interaction between various regimes.
2.3 Education and Public Outreach Opportunities
NASA policy strongly encourages participation in Education and Public Outreach (E/PO)
activities by members of the science community. You may be eligible to propose a
supplemental Education or Outreach effort if your research proposal is selected for
award. The research award must have more than 15 months remaining at the time of
submission of the supplement proposal. For additional details concerning the submission
of Outreach or Education supplement proposals, please see Supplemental Outreach
Awards for ROSES Investigators (Appendix E.5) and Supplemental Education Awards
for ROSES Investigators (Appendix E.6).
3. Summary of Key Information
Expected annual program budget $1.5 M
for new awards
Number of new awards pending 10 – 15
adequate proposals of merit
Maximum duration of awards 3 years
Due date for Notice of Intent to April 17, 2009
propose (NOI)
Due date for proposals June 5, 2009
Planning date for start of 6 months after proposal due date.
investigation
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Page limit for the central Science- 15 pp; See also Chapter 2 of the 2009 Guidebook
Technical-Management section for Proposers.
of proposal
Relevance This program is relevant to the heliophysics
strategic goals and subgoals in NASA’s Strategic
Plan; see Table 1 and the references therein.
Proposals that are relevant to this program are, by
definition, relevant to NASA.
General information and See the ROSES Summary of Solicitation.
overview of this solicitation
Detailed instructions for the See the 2009 NASA Guidebook for Proposers at
preparation and submission of http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nragui
proposals debook/.
Submission medium Electronic proposal submission is required; no
hard copy is required or permitted. See also
Section IV of the ROSES Summary of Solicitation
and Chapter 3 of the 2009 NASA Guidebook for
Proposers.
Web site for submission of http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (help desk available at
proposal via NSPIRES nspires-help@nasaprs.com or (202) 479-9376)
Web site for submission of http://grants.gov (help desk available at
support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726)
proposal via Grants.gov
Funding opportunity number for NNH09ZDA001N-CCMSC
downloading an application
package from Grants.gov
NASA point of contact Dr. Mary Mellott
concerning this program Heliophysics Division
Science Mission Directorate
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546-0001
Telephone: (202) 358-0893
E-mail: Mary.M.Mellott@nasa.gov
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