Strong evidence of low levels of solar activity during the Maunder Minimum (vol 504, pg 5199, 2021)

Summary: This study analyzes sunspot observations conducted at the Eimmart Observatory during the Maunder Minimum, updating and revising existing data sets to reveal hemispheric asymmetry and sunspot group recovery after 1716. The findings support the common paradigm of the Maunder Minimum, highlighting the importance of historical archives in understanding solar activity during grand solar minima.

Summary: The study compared the solar activity levels of the Maunder Minimum in 1709 with the Dalton Minimum and recent solar cycles, finding that 1709, while one of the most active years, was less active compared to other years in those periods. This provides robust evidence of low solar activity levels in the Maunder Minimum.