The Solar Minimum continues with the sunspot count for December posted at 19.4, which compares to 21.4 for November. This is Solar Cycle 24 and the peak was 146 in February 2014 and the December number was a new cyclical low.

The low for SC 23 was 0.0 in August 2009.

Spotless days have been increasing. From 2011 to 2015 there were only 3 such days as SC 24 maxed out in 2014.

2016 clocked 32 spotless days, with 7 noted from December 16 to 31.

The pace is increasing.

Of interest is that 2008 recorded 270 spotless days, which was the weakest solar cycle since 1913 when the number was 310.

This solar minimum was predicated by internal dynamics of the sun as well as by periodicity. In time, it could become another grand solar minimum, which have been associated with significant cooling trends.

Religion

"The Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences is the world's longest running scientific mission. That body, which advises the Pope, has concluded that global climate change is real and is caused, at least in significant part, by human activities."

- Catholic Online, December 9.

The Vatican should be studying Matthew 7:15-23, as well as Exodus 23:1-2.

"Global warming is an established fact. It's immutable, it's non-negotiable, it's not subject to politics. It does not care who won the Electoral College."

- Jeffrey Kluger, Time magazine editor, CBS, December 17.

Science

Another Great Reformation seems to be getting underway. Repressed researchers should become more open.

"Welcome to the Trump Era! Skeptical Climate Scientists Coming In From the Cold"

"[Wisconsin] Department of Natural Resources has removed from its site any language that humans and CO2 are behind global warming."

- Climate Depot, January 1.

"Crumbling Consensus: 500 Scientific Papers Published In 2016 Support a Skeptical Position on Climate Alarm"

- No Tricks Zone, January 2.