Spӧrer

Definition

Spörer refers to the period of significantly reduced solar activity that occurred approximately between 1460 and 1550, known as the Spörer Minimum. This was characterized by a lower number of sunspots and is linked to broader climate changes on Earth.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Spörer Minimum is one of several identified periods of low solar activity known as Grand Solar Minima.
2. It was named after the German astronomer Gustav Spörer, who studied historical sunspot records.
3. During the Spörer Minimum, sunspot numbers were notably low, affecting space weather and Earth's climate.
4. The Spörer Minimum coincided with some of the coldest years of the Little Ice Age in Europe.
5. Understanding periods like the Spörer Minimum helps scientists predict future solar activity and its potential impact on Earth's climate.

Review Questions

Related terms

Maunder Minimum:

A period of very low solar activity from about 1645 to 1715, often associated with colder global temperatures.

Little Ice Age:

A period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period, roughly from the 14th to mid-19th century.

Sunspot: A temporary phenomenon on the Sun's photosphere that appears as spots darker than surrounding areas due to reduced surface temperature.