Are we entering a mini-Ice Age? Is the Sun hibernating?

[NW7US]

“Where’s the Beef?” “Put up or shut up.” There are a growing number of radio hobbyists who have taken notice of the seemingly longer-than-usual solar cycle minimum. Where are the sunspots? Where’s the activity of a new solar cycle? “We’re going to see another Maunder Minimum.” “We’re about to enter a mini-ice age!”

The Maunder Minimum occurred during the period starting in 1645 and ending in 1715, an incredible 70 years during which sunspots were rarely observed. To the observer, this period is void of any evidence of any eleven-year solar cycles. What’s more, this period coincided with the infamous ‘Little Ice-Age’, a series of extraordinarily cold winters occurring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Speculation is increasing in lay and academic circles that we are experiencing an unusually long solar cycle minimum. The talk is spreading that perhaps we are entering another Maunder Minimum.

What are your opinions and perspective on this?