Just so we keep the facts straight, guys, here's a link to NASA's time line of sunspot number and prediction graphic (
http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/ssn_predict_l.gif) and here's a link to the time line of average global temperatures (
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/Fig.A.lrg.gif).
The latter, I believe, has been detrended for urban warming effects (local effects due to urbanization). The relationship between sunspot numbers and global temperature fluctuations on an annual or seasonal basis is very small, and is much, much smaller than that between CO2 fluctuations, sea-surface temperature fluctuations etc. The highest correlation, which is statistically significant, is that found between greenhouse gas concentrations and global temperatures.
Here's a quick synopsis of what meteorologists/climatologists have been expecting to happen (since the late 1980s) and is happening.
As the global temperatures continue to increase, meanders in the position of the jet stream will become more pronounced. Though the cooler air on the poleward side of the jet stream will be less cold, some of these meanders will take the cool air really far south, perhaps anchoring it there occasionally for a period of weeks. Thus, those locations will experience cool and wet conditions. For the first part of this century, by the way, in California we're expecting warmer temperatures, of course, and a higher average annual precipitation BUT with larger swings around that average (meaning, terrible droughts alternating with very wet years....combining to produce above average precip) through about 2035.
Meanwhile, the overall temperatures will continue to increase. More water vapor will be pumped into the atmosphere, making conditions south of the jet hotter and stickier. Summer temperatures in the intermountain west will, on average, sizzle.
In California, we've just passed through our second heat wave in one month. The ridiculously warm temperatures in the Bay Area, for example, while not proving Global Warming, certainly are consistent with it.
I just passed through Ukiah, CA on Thursday. It was 111F there, and the smoke from all the fires in our area was choking. These are exactly the sorts of things we expect to occur with greater frequency in all of our lifetimes.
