For more context, I recommend looking at the two graphs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspot#Variation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspot#Variation

For more context, I recommend looking at the two graphs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspot#Variation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspot#Variation In particular, the Maunder minimum was a period of very low solar activity in the 17th century which contributed to the Little Ice Age. The drop in temperature impacted agricultural yields around the globe. [1] That said, my professor would say that it's too early to infer much from this cycle's low sunspot number. The solar dynamo is very unpredictable in general, and quite possibly chaotic. Next cycle could be above average and that wouldn't shock anybody in solar physics. [1] For instance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Dynasty#Economic_breakdown_and_natural_disasters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Dynasty#Economic_breakdow...