The periods of Minoan, Roman and Medieval Warming are all evidence of this.

Historical documentation reveals human civilizations expand and flourish during prolonged spells of warmth (aka Grand Solar Maximums –such as the Modern Maximum: ≈1920 to ≈2000) and, conversely, contract and collapse during extended cool downs (i.e. The following cycle (SC26) is expected, by many, to be even weaker than SC24 and SC25, perhaps even nonexistent - a reality that could spell disastrous news for humanity. Back then, panel co-chair Lisa Upton, Ph.D., solar physicist with Space Systems Research Corp, announced: “We expect Solar Cycle 25 will be very similar to Cycle 24 … another weak cycle, preceded by a long, deep minimum.”

Solar cycle 25, at least so far, is offering minimal relief from the multidecadal drop-off in solar output that we’re experiencing - what we’re in is an extended period of low solar activity not seen since the Dalton Minimum (1795-1835).Īnd although anything can happen from here –there are even credible forecasts still calling for a record strong SC25– things appear to be progressing in line with those original Solar Cycle Prediction Panel projections from 2019. Global temperatures will likely continue their well-established correlation with solar activity - and decrease. A facility in North Dakota also converts lignite to synthetic natural gas that is sent in natural gas pipelines to consumers in the eastern United States.Solar Cycle 25 progression (green line) compared to 24, 23, 22 & 21 Lignite is mostly used to generate electricity. The other 7% was produced in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Montana. About 54% was mined in North Dakota and about 39% was mined in Texas. Lignite is crumbly and has high moisture content, which contributes to its low heating value. Lignite coal deposits tend to be relatively young and were not subjected to extreme heat or pressure. Lignite contains 25%–35% carbon and has the lowest energy content of all coal ranks. The remainder was produced in Alaska, Colorado, and New Mexico. coal production in 2020 was subbituminous and about 88% was produced in Wyoming and 8% in Montana. Most subbituminous coal in the United States is at least 100 million years old. Subbituminous coal typically contains 35%–45% carbon, and it has a lower heating value than bituminous coal. Bituminous coal was produced in at least 18 states in 2020, but five states accounted for about 74% of total bituminous production: West Virginia (28%), Pennsylvania (14%), Illinois (13%), Kentucky (10%), and Indiana (8%). Bituminous coal is used to generate electricity and is an important fuel and raw material for making coking coal or use in the iron and steel industry.

Bituminous coal is the most abundant rank of coal found in the United States, and it accounted for about 44% of total U.S. Bituminous coal in the United States is between 100 million and 300 million years old. In the United States, anthracite is mainly used by the metals industry.īituminous coal contains 45%–86% carbon. All of the anthracite mines in the United States are in northeastern Pennsylvania. Anthracite accounted for less than 1% of the coal mined in the United States in 2020. The rank of a coal deposit is determined by the amount of pressure and heat that acted on the plants over time.Īnthracite contains 86%–97% carbon and generally has the highest heating value of all ranks of coal. The ranking depends on the types and amounts of carbon the coal contains and on the amount of heat energy the coal can produce. Coal is classified into four main types, or ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite.

Solar ash gif