Rob Waugh: Is 'global cooling' on the way?

Lake sediment proves 'solar minimum' caused 200 years of cooling 2,800 years ago. New minimum due soon, after this year's sunspot activity. Sun's activity CAN cause changes in Earth's climate, claim scientists. May throw predictions of global warming out of whack. When the Greek poet Homer was writing The Odyssey around 2,800 years ago, the Earth went through an abrupt period of cooling, caused by the sun, and the same could happen again soon. Scientists at the GFZ German Research Center for Geo-sciences analyzed lake sediment in Lake Meer-felder Maar, and found direct evidence of a sudden cooling caused by a 'solar minimum'. Some scientists suspect that the current period of high solar activity, including increased sunspots and solar storms this year, will be followed by a 'minimum' period, which could even cause an Ice Age. If the GFZ research is correct, a new 'solar' minimum' could have a direct impact on Earth's climate, cooling our planet drastically, and knocking the predictions of global-warming alarmists out of whack. Dr Achim Brauer of the GFZ said, 'An abrupt cooling in Europe, together with an increase in humidity and particularly in windiness coincided with a sustained reduction in solar activity 2800 years ago.' Brauer's measurements of lake sediments allow 'a precise dating even of short-term climate changes.' The Homeric Minimum', the solar minimum that coincided with the famous poet's lifetime, caused a cool period that lasted 200 years. 'Scientists from the German Research Center for Geo-sciences GFZ in collaboration with Swedish and Dutch colleagues provide evidence for a direct solar-climate linkage on centennial timescales,' say the researchers.