The fewest number of sunspots in decades and the reduction of the solar wind has surprised scientists, who were expecting more activity during this part of the solar cycle. There is uncertainty as to what the prolonged effects might be-- it could lead to a cooler Earth, say some climatologists. More at the Financial Times(1).

1. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6f1ddaf0-8fd9-11dd-9890-0000779fd18c,dwp_uuid=02e16f4a-46f9-11da-b8e5-00000e2511c8.html