Scientists are predicting that in 15 years, a "mini ice age" will bring extremely cold temperatures to Earth.
University of Northumbria solar researchers made a new model of the sun's activity that they say provides "unprecedentedly accurate predictions," the Telegraph reports. Fluid movements within the sun are believed to create 11-year cycles in the weather, the scientists say, and in 2030, those movements will meet in a way to cause a drastic drop in temperatures. Prof. Valentina Zharkova says the result will be similar to freezing conditions in the 17th century, when Europe and North America experienced bitterly cold winters; historical records indicate that from 1683 to 1684, the River Thames froze for more than seven weeks, and was "passable by foot."
While conducting research, Zharkova and her team found that magnetic wave components appear in pairs, and originate in two different layers inside the sun. "They both have a frequency of approximately 11 years, although this frequency is slightly different, and they are offset in time," she said. "Over the cycle, the waves fluctuate between the northern and southern hemispheres of the sun. Combining both waves together and comparing to real data for the current solar cycle, we found that our predictions showed an accuracy of 97 percent."
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