Commentaries

Thank you to all of you for your ongoing support and participation in GCI and our mission to bring more peace and harmony to the world. GCI now has over 50,000 members, how exciting is this! For many people, 2012 was an incredibly intense year, bringing global changes on all levels: political, societal, economic and environmental. In this commentary, I want to address the ongoing global earth changes, what they mean to us and what we might expect in 2013.

Global Geological and Environmental Change

At the World Forum, an international congress on GEOCATACLYSM held in 2011, extensive data from different earth science disciplines were compiled and discussed by various scientists. The goal was to gain a deeper insight into global environmental changes, and their potential impact on civilization. The compiled data indicated that our planet is going through a great transformation. Many scientists realized that the changes not only affect our weather and climate, but they also affect the lithosphere (the ridged, outermost rocky shell of our planet), the hydrosphere (the combined mass of water found on our planet), the atmosphere and the magnetosphere (Earth’s magnetic field).

Prof. Dr. Elchin Khalilov, the Chairman of the World Forum, reported changes in the following areas, and some of the points below are directly quoted from the proceedings:

‘Magnetic poles’ drift acceleration

The explosive, more than fivefold growth of the North Magnetic Pole’s drift rate from 1990 to the present has been accompanied by a significant increase in Earth’s activity.

In 1998, the North Magnetic Pole’s drift rate approached its maximum value. From roughly 1998 on, there has been an observed sharp increase in the number of large earthquakes and earthquake fatalities, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis (catastrophic, medium sized and weak, see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Velocity of North Geomagnetic Pole movement (from N. Olsen and M. Mandea, 2007)

Large earthquakes

A comparative analysis of variations and the dynamics of numbers of large M> 8 earthquakes between 1980 and May 2010 revealed that starting from 1997-1999, there has been a surge in the number of large earthquakes and fatalities caused by (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Graph for M>8 earthquakes.

Increase in floods has been observed

Flood statistics from the US in Figure 3 below show a large increase in flood notifications between 2000-2008. In addition, the number of worldwide flood notifications for the period between February 2010 and late May 2010 is more than 2.5 times higher than the figures for the same periods from 2002 to 2006 inclusive.

Figure 3. U.S. flood statistics from 1980 to 2008.

Hurricanes, storms, fires

A surge was observed in the number of North Atlantic tropical storms between 1998 and 2007, and this tendency continues today. An increase in the total number of Atlantic Basin hurricanes from 1944 to the present was also observed. A recent super storm that is still alive in our memory is Hurricane Sandy. The dynamics of the annual number of U.S. forest fires from 1960 to 2007 reveals their increasing tendency, with a "surge" beginning in 1998. A similar pattern in the dynamics of forest fire statistics has been observed in other regions of Earth".

"An important role in climate change is attributed to global changes in the parameters of the geomagnetic field and magnetosphere; this refers in particular to the more than 500% increase in the North Magnetic Pole’s drift rate and reduction of the geomagnetic field intensity. Today, the impact of magnetospheric processes on Earth’s climate is considered a proven scientific fact."

As previously discussed in GCI commentaries, global climate change is also affected by solar activity and other solar variations, like the flux of solar radiation in particular, which is a proven scientific fact. "As a result of the studies conducted, a conclusion has been drawn about the beginning of the so-called global "energy spike" in our planet’s energy manifesting itself across all its strata: the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and magnetosphere. The starting point for the global "energy spike" is roughly 1998. The global "energy spike" is explicitly reflected in the soaring statistical indicators for the vast majority of natural disasters most dangerous to humanity: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, floods and forest fires. "

In maybe less scientific words, what does this global "energy spike" mean to us? Is the earth evolving to a different state of consciousness or frequency (along with humanity)? Can we learn to live with the earth changes, rather than being threatened by them? In mid-2013, the maximum of the present solar cycle is expected. So, this year we could expect more earth changes.

While we do not know what kind of earth changes to expect, we can take responsibility for our own inner well-being and help create more harmony in our energetic field environment. An example of how heart coherence can positively affect us, can be found in the photographs below.

The first photograph shows a saliva sample from a person in an incoherent state; it doesn’t have any structure and looks like a blob. After five minutes of practicing heart coherence, saliva taken from the same person shows nicely formed crystals. Since we are composed of about 70% water, these saliva samples indicate that what we feel can have an impact on us.

Picture 1.
Saliva of person not coherent.

Picture 2. Saliva of same person after five minutes of heart coherence practice.

We encourage you to practice heart coherence to increase harmony and well-being throughout 2013.

With appreciation for your continued support of the Global Coherence Initiative.

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

First of all, thank you to the growing GCI community of over 47,000 members for your ongoing support in our endeavor to bring more peace and harmony to the world.

In this commentary, I will discuss some of the amazing properties of water. As Leonardo DaVinci said, "Water is the driving force of all nature."

A water molecule contains two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen atom (O), which are connected with covalent bonds as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Water molecule
(source: Wikimedia Commons)

Water has unusual properties in that it can occur in a liquid, solid (ice) or gaseous (vapor) state. Water is essential for all life on Earth. We drink it and we bathe and swim in it. We use water for cleaning and our gardens, and we use it for agriculture and industrial purposes as well.

Seventy percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water. The percentage of water on Earth is similar to the percentage of water in the human body: 55% to 78%. Scientists are searching for the secrets of this amazing element. There can be no life, as we know it, without water. Water has not been discovered in liquid form on other planets, though there is evidence of traces of it in frozen form on some planets. No substance in the world is more yielding than water, and yet when it flows in streams and freezes and thaws, it erodes rocks, mountains, landscapes, etc.

About 96.5% of Earth’s water is in the form of saltwater in the oceans; 1.7% is groundwater; 1.7% is water contained in glaciers and icecaps in Antarctica and Greenland; a small fraction is found elsewhere; and 0.001% is in the atmosphere in the form of vapor, clouds and precipitation. See Figure 2, below.

Figure 2. The Water Cycle (from USGS).

Figure 3.

Distribution of Earth’s Water (from USGS). Approximately 70% of the fresh water used by humans goes to agriculture. Water moves continually through the hydrological cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and runoff, reaching streams and the sea. http://www.usgs.gov/visual-id/credit_usgs.html#copyright;
Source: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterdistribution.html.

Water Memory

Water memory is what some theorize as the ability of water to retain "memory" of substances previously dissolved in it, even when there is a very high dilution factor to the point that no molecule of the substance remains in the solution.

The research and controversy surrounding this concept is interesting. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician and originator of homeopathy, had the idea that a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure that disease in sick people (Hahnemann, 1833). Most scientific evidence in modern medicine does not support this contention, and there is strong criticism from skeptics whenever someone comes up with supporting evidence for homeopathy. Well known French immunologist Jacques Benveniste sought to prove that homeopathy works. In a 1988 study, he conducted an experiment and co-authored a paper along with others from laboratories in Canada, Italy, Israel, and France. (Davenas et al., 1988) Benveniste concluded in the paper, which was published in the journal, Nature, that the configuration of molecules in water was biologically active, and a journalist coined the term water memory for the hypothesis that water can retain memory.

After the article was published, a follow-up investigation was set up by a team of skeptics, including physicist and Nature editor John Maddox. The team wasn’t able to reproduce Benveniste’s results, and the study was dismissed as not replicable. More recently, French virologist Luc Montagnier, winner of a Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of the link between HIV and AIDs, presented a quasi-homeopathic method in 2009. He also suggested that water could retain electrochemical properties even when the solution was massively diluted. The contentions of Montagnier, a professor at Shangai Jiaotong University in China, again shocked the scientific community and were met with much disbelief.

Whether pioneers like Benveniste and Montagnier will be proven right or wrong remains to be seen. No matter how scientific or pseudo-scientific water research is, water nevertheless continues to fascinate many people. For example, the work of Japanese author Masaru Emoto, who contends that human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water, became known for his beautiful pictures of water crystals. Initially, Emoto said high-quality water forms beautiful and intricate crystals, while low-quality water has difficulty forming crystals. (See Emoto’s photographed water crystals on his website at www.masaru-emoto.net, and a YouTube video about water and consciousness at http://youtu.be/tAvzsjcBtx8.)

According to Emoto, an ice crystal of distilled water exhibits a basic hexagonal structure with no intricate branching. Emoto says positive changes to water crystals can be achieved through prayer, music or by attaching written words of gratitude, appreciation and love to a container of water. Critics have remarked that Emoto’s research had insufficient experimental controls and his experiments’ designs could have been influenced by human error. Emoto has acknowledged that he is not a scientist and that photographers were instructed to select the most pleasing photographs for the experiments.

The World in a Drop

Professor Bernd Kröplin at the Aerospace Institute in Stuttgart, Germany discovered a simple way of making the structure of water visible: Apply drops of water to slides and look at them under a dark field microscope. He showed that while individual drops made by different students were different from each other, drops made by the same student repeatedly showed a similar image in the dried water drop. (For more information, visit Kröplin‘s website at www.weltimtropfen.de/forschung.html, and watch a YouTube video at http://youtu.be/ILSyt_Hhbjg.

Kröplin showed that an image of a flower and an image of salad remained in the water, after a flower or salad was immersed in the water. He apparently has taken the science of water memory a step further, but this kind of work is still regarded as pseudoscience by mainstream scientists.

Professor Konstantin Korotkov, a Russian scientist, also is involved in innovative water research. Korotkov developed a new approach for remote detection of individual and human emotions (Korotkov et al., 2008) by adding a new antenna device to the electrophotonic image gas discharge visualization camera system (GVD). On Aug. 3, 2008, Emoto conducted a ceremony for blessing the water of Russia’s Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake. GVD sensors were used to measure any changes during the ceremony. The data showed distinct differences at various stages of the ceremony. (From the report, Baikal Water Ceremony, Konstantin Korotkov, 2008):

Tests were conducted in a 2008 experiment in Russia in which ordinary water was exposed to the "NASA sound of the sun," and then cryogenically flash-frozen, photographed and examined under a dark field microscope. Author David Sereda and Saida Medvedeva, who produced the film, Water – the Great Mystery, took a photograph of an ice crystal that had been exposed to the sound of a solar flare. (See photograph in Figure 4.)

Figure 4.

The sound of a solar flare was recorded and can be heard on the website Space.com.

You also can listen to an interview with Sereda at http://youtu.be/AoJNvjXDaXU.

Additionally, Sereda and Medvedeva tested how the sound of the sun affected test subjects who were wired to a GDV camera, which can monitor the energy radiating from a person’s fingertips. When a subject heard the sound of the sun for one minute, there was an increase in the patterns of energy which indicate there was an increase in the energy radiating from that person’s heart. In other words, the sun was activating the human heart field.

The Global Coherence Initiative previously has reported that solar flares seem to be related to negative and positive emotional peaks in humans. Bursts of creativity and scientific and societal progress have been linked to the increased energy influx from solar flares. Just as the sun can change water, it is possible that the increased energy from solar flares may help people purge the old and experience positive changes. The sun was very active in July and early August in 2012 and produced numerous M-Class (medium size) and X-Class (large) flares. The strongest solar flare the sun emitted, a large X1.4-Class flare, caused a vivid aurora borealis in the more northern latitudes. It is predicted that solar flares will continue to increase in intensity and appearance with a maximum of about 60 sunspots in the spring of 2013, which is the time when a solar maximum currently is predicted to occur. (See NASA’s prediction of monthly sunspot numbers in Figure 5 below.)

Figure 5. NASA’s prediction of monthly sunspot numbers.

During the ongoing solar energy influx through 2013 and beyond, there may be occasions when people feel unusually tired or experience emotions such as anger, irritation or depression. Remember that during difficult times, solar energy may be helping to move old energies out of your system. By remaining calm and centered, you can use any incoming energy to your advantage. Feel free to use HeartMath’s Quick Coherence^® Technique or other tools, which can help you create more coherence in your life.

With gratitude for your continued participation in the global shift of consciousness,

Annette Deyhle, PhD and GCI Research Team

Thank you for your participation in the Global Coherence Initiative and helping to increase coherence, peace and harmony on our planet.

We have just entered the long awaited year 2012. While there are many prophecies from different cultures about 2012, the one that has received most attention is the end date of the Mayan calendar on December 21st, 2012. Most professional Mayan researchers (Webster, 2007, MacDonald, 2007) see this date as the culmination of a long cycle and the beginning of a new one. They agree that any predication of an apocalypse is a misinterpretation of Mayan history and culture.

Other cultural prophecies look at 2012 as a transition year that marks the start of a time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a spiritual transformation. Some call it the beginning of a new era of global oneness, where humanity begins to outgrow war as a means of resolving conflict.

Whatever 2012 will bring remains to be seen. NASA scientists state that December 21, 2012 will just be another winter solstice. From the surface of the Earth, the Sun and the Milky Way appear, to come into alignment at every winter solstice.

The scientific fact is, that we are still in the Solar Cycle 24, which is expected to peak in 2013. The year 2011 ended with "natural fireworks" from the sun, when sunspot 1389 unleashed mid-size (M2) class solar flares. The solar activity slowed down at the beginning of 2012, but then picked up on January 23rd, when a medium sized M9 class flare, on the threshold of being an X-flare, erupted from sunspot 1042 and caused a geomagnetic storm on Earth on January 24th. Then on January 27th, an X2 class flare unleashed, with the blast site not facing the Earth.

Images can be seen on the Spaceweather site:

Image of X-Class Flare, Jan. 27th 2012, from www.spaceweather.com.

As we have discussed before in these commentaries, increased solar activity can have effects on human health and behavior, leading to increased violence, homicide, suicide, heart attacks, strokes, depression, fatigue and irritability. This all has been documented in scientific literature. Not only was there research showing that individuals are affected, but also that solar activity seems to drive an increase in social unrest, revolutions and wars. This was first discovered by the Russian scientist Tchijevsky in 1916.

Interestingly, during the current Solar Cycle 24, social unrest has increased. The Occupy movement started in the US then spread to many countries throughout the world. Social unrest that toppled regimes in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt happened in a relatively short time period.

However, it’s important to remember that increased solar activity can have a positive impact as well. Suitbert Ertel, a German professor, found an increase in human creativity in art, science and architecture during periods of increased solar energy.

While an increasing influx of solar energy will continue to impact us during 2012, it is each individual’s choice and responsibility to establish balance within oneself. Then we can choose to flex with the influx of energy created by the sun and direct it to increase our creative intentions for a better future. As GCI members, we can become "coherence builders" within ourselves and for the benefit of the planet. We can refresh our practice of the Coherence techniques on the GCI site to help us increase our balance, coherence and creativity. To review the Coherence Technique, click here. (You must login to view.)

With the best wishes for a coherent year 2012,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D.

References

David Webster (September 25, 2007). "The Uses and Abuses of the Ancient Maya" (PDF). The Emergence of the Modern World Conference, Otzenhausen, Germany: Penn State University. Retrieved February 2, 2012.

Jeffrey MacDonald (March 27, 2007). "Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse?". USA Today. Retrieved February 2, 2012.

"2012: Beginning of the End or Why the World Won’t End?". NASA. 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2012.

Vasudha Narayanan (1998). "A "White Paper" on Kalki Bhagavan". American Academy of Religion. Retrieved February 2, 2012.

The world saw many changes in the first half of 2011, including a record number of tornadoes, extreme weather, unprecedented flooding, earthquakes (the biggest was in March in Japan followed by a tsunami), numerous volcanic eruptions and ongoing social unrest in the Middle East. All these events suggest that we are in a time of energy influx and increasing change. And most of this can be correlated with the Sun’s increasing activity during the start of upswing of Solar Cycle 24.

Several of the solar and earthly displays have been spectacular to look at. For example, space weather announced a magnificent eruption on June 7th, coming from the magnetic fields above sunspot complex 1226-1227. The blast produced an M2-class solar flare, an S1-class radiation storm, and a massive coronal mass ejection (CME). A recording of the blast from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory can be seen on YouTube with a commentary from solar physicist C. Alex Young of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center: http://youtu.be/Q_3u_0NN7OM.

On June 5th, the Chilean Puyehue volcano started erupting, after lying dormant for 50 years.

On June 15th, most of the world (other than North America) was able to witness a total lunar eclipse. The moon spent 100 minutes fully engulfed in Earth’s shadow, making this the longest lunar eclipse in nearly 11 years. See photo from the eclipse below (from Marek Nikodem, Poland) and more photos can be viewed on the space weather site: http://spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_15jun11.htm.

The June 15th lunar eclipse was part of a rare three-eclipse series of events that occurred on the new moon June 1st, the full moon June 15th and the new moon July 1st. Two partial solar eclipses a month apart and one total lunar eclipse exactly in between). The next lunar eclipse will occur on December 10, 2011 and will also be a total lunar eclipse. That event should be visible from the western United States and Canada.

The first day of northern summer began with a solar flare. Magnetic fields above sunspot complex 1236 erupted on June 21st, hurling a coronal mass ejection (CME) almost directly toward Earth.

The influence of solar and lunar activity on weather patterns, earthquakes, volcanic activity, human health and behavior, social unrest and on human flourishing as well has been discussed in previous commentaries. Now we’d like to discuss the possibility of increased solar activity influencing recent social unrest, as indicated by the GCI monitoring site in Saudi Arabia.

Results from GCI monitoring site from Saudi Arabia during times of social unrest and revolution in Egypt and Libya

The data presented here was taken between January 25 to February 28, 2011 from the recently installed GCI monitoring site in Saudi Arabia. During this period of time, much of the global attention was focused on the Egyptian revolution and the start of the social unrest in Libya. In Figure 1 below, the total spectral power (0.5 to 45 Hz on x-axis) of the magnetometer data, is plotted against the dates (Jan 25 to Feb 28, 2011, y-axis). The total spectral power includes the activity of all the Schumann resonances as well as other oscillating magnetic field frequencies, such as Alven waves (field line resonances). Daily descriptions of events are included on the chart, which were obtained from an article titled: A chronicle of the revolution that ended the three-decade-long presidency of Hosni Mubarak, available at http://english.aljazeera.net.

Figure 1.

Magnetic spectral power from GCI magnetometer in Saudi Arabia, from Jan. 25 to Feb 28, 2011.

The daily descriptions of the events have been abbreviated in order to fit on the chart; the full descriptions are included in the Appendix. Due to space constraints, the events listed on the chart are only for days where magnetic field intensity peaks occurred. Currently, we are not yet able to statistically correlate these events with the magnetometer data or the magnetic field data showing collective emotional intensity. However, it is a focus of GCI’s research and we will continue to examine data from different locations around the world related to human health and behavior, earth changes and social activity, in order to examine the relationship and effects of environmental field factors on humanity and vice versa.

Comparison of Solar Cycle 22, 23 and 24 to F 10.7 index

Figures 2 and 3 display the F10.7 solar radio flux index from NASA’s Space Physics Data Facility. The sun emits radio energy which varies in energy level, depending on the number of spots on the solar disk. Solar flux from the entire disk at the frequency of 2800 MHz (10.7 cm wavelength) is recorded by a radio telescope. The F10.7 solar radio flux is considered one of the best indices of overall solar activity. It represents a measure of diffuse, non-radioactive heating of the coronal plasma trapped by magnetic fields over active regions. One solar flux unit (sfu) equals 10-²² watt/m²/Hz on earth.

As discussed in previous commentaries (e.g. January 13, 2010), the first researcher to link human excitability with solar activity was the Russian scientist Tchijevsky. After compiling the histories of 72 countries from 500 BC to 1922 AD, Tchijevsky constructed an "Index of Mass Human Excitability". Furthermore, he found that 80% of the most significant human events occurred during the 5 years around the peak of sunspot activity. When the data is examined, it appears that when solar-geomagnetic activity is changing most rapidly, it has the greatest potential to affect human moods, behavior patterns, creativity and historical trends.

Figure 2.

Solar flux units plotted against years of 1985 to 2011.

A few other researchers have also shown a direct correlation between social unrest, terrorist attacks, and revolutions during times of increased solar activity (e.g. Ertel, 1996; Mikulecký, 2007; Cornélissen et al., in press). Ertel (1996) re-examined Tchijevsky’s data and extended the time frame examined to 1985. His conclusion is that: "The relationship between solar activity and violence-from-below (such as a revolution by the people as opposed to a military takeover) proves to be very significant (p < .001). Results obtained from various controls corroborate the conclusion that the relationship is substantial. Ensuing physical, physiological, psychological, and societal problems raised by the awareness of correlations of human history with heliodependent environmental processes, need to be resolved."

In Figure 2, the last 2 solar cycles (22 and 23) are plotted, along with the onset of Solar Cycle 24. As an example, two major social events that had substantial carry-over effects on the world were chosen for the last two solar cycles. Iraq invaded Kuwait during the peak of the Solar Cycle 22. The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center occurred during the peak of Solar Cycle 23. Solar Cycle 24 has just started to become more active, and with this increase we have seen more earth changes and increased social unrest (not only in the Middle East, but in Europe, e.g. Spanish riots and the Greek protests.). Along with the continued increase of solar activity, more social "excitability" is expected in the months and years ahead.

Figure 3.

Solar flux units plotted against social activity in Egypt and Libya.

A more detailed view of the F 10.7 solar index compared to recent events in the Middle East is displayed in Figure 3. Political events have been correlated with increased solar flux. However, more detailed data analysis has to be carried out in order to scientifically understand the correlations, which is one of the goals of GCI.

As GCI adds more monitoring stations with magnetometers worldwide (our goal is twelve), this research should provide valuable insights into the interconnectedness between solar and geomagnetic activity (S-GMA) and human health and behavior, as well as social and environmental activity. GCI will continue to examine the relationship between solar and geomagnetic activity and the collective emotional response to major events. It is also possible that the collective human emotional response will affect S-GMA, as suggested by the psychic Edgar Cayce in the 1920’s. However, as already mentioned, the labeling of the peaks in Figures 1, 2 and 3 only represents a starting point from which GCI can learn more about the interconnectedness humanity has with the earth, solar and geomagnetic activity in relationship to social activity.

We also acknowledge that not having been present in Egypt or Libya during the above time period, we do not really know or understand the intensity and types of emotional fluctuations that occurred as the various events unfolded. Through TV and news coverage, it is possible that the collective emotions of the global community also influenced the events.

GCI has synchronized magnetometer data from our Boulder Creek, California location with the Saudi Arabian magnetometer during the time frame discussed. Differences in data between the two locations have been observed. A comparison of local and global magnetometer data to increased S-GMA and social activity will be discussed in future commentaries.

Potential and positive implications of increases solar activity:

Solar Cycle 24 activity will continue to kick up and reach its peak sometime in 2013. It is very likely that mass excitement and social unrest will also continue to increase in the next few years. This is an ideal time for GCI to research the interconnectedness of life on Earth, and the interactions between solar activity and Earth’s geomagnetic and ionospheric activity. As pointed out by Ertel (1996), times of increased solar activity not only coincide with social unrest, but also give rise to spurts in architecture, arts and science. Old social structures which do not serve humanity might be replaced with more suitable and sustainable models. This is a time of opportunity and possibility, and the chance to use these energy influxes to create humanitarian advances and a sustainable human flourishing. A major contribution each and every one of us can make is to increase emotional balance and coherence within ourselves. This will enable us as individuals to use these energy influxes to our advantage. By increasing our internal coherence, we can positively affect our relationships and our social environment, which in turn may be positively reflected in the global field environment. Together we can create great opportunities during this cycle of increased solar activity.

With gratitude and appreciation for your participation in this global shift of consciousness,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D., and GCI Research Team

Appendix

Timeline: Egypt’s revolution
A chronicle of the revolution that ended the three-decade-long presidency of Hosni Mubarak.
From: http://english.aljazeera.net

January 25: On a national holiday to commemorate the police forces, Egyptians take to the streets in large numbers, calling it a "day of rage".

January 26: A protester and a police officer are killed in central Cairo as anti-government demonstrators pelt security forces with rocks and firebombs for a second day, according to witnesses. Police use tear gas, water cannons and batons to disperse protesters in Cairo. Witnesses say that live ammunition is also fired into the air.

January 27: Protests continue across several cities. Hundreds have been arrested, but the protesters say they will not give up until their demand is met. Lawyers stage protests in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta town of Toukh, north of Cairo.

January 28: Egypt remains on edge, as police and protesters clash throughout the country. Eleven civilians are killed in Suez and 170 injured. No deaths are reported in Cairo. At least 1,030 people get injured countrywide.

January 29: Mubarak announces that he has sacked the cabinet, but he himself refuses to step down. Thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square stand their ground, despite troops firing into the air in a bid to disperse them. Mubarak appoints a vice-president for the first time during his three decades in power.

January 30: Thousands of protesters remain in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. The crowds are cheering when El Baradei addresses protesters in the square saying, "What we started can never be pushed back". Turkey has announced that it is sending aircraft to evacuate its citizens, after the US embassy in Cairo has advised all US citizens in Egypt to consider leaving as soon as possible.

January 31: Mubarak still refuses to step down, amid growing calls for his resignation. Protesters continue to defy the military-imposed curfew. About 250,000 people gather in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and hundreds march through Alexandria.

February 1: Hosni Mubarak announces in a televised address that he will not run for re-election but refuses to step down from office – the central demand of the protesters. Khalid Abdel Nasser, son of the former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, joins the protest in Tahrir Square. The number of protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square is revised to more than a million people. Thousands more take to the streets throughout Egypt, including in Alexandria and Suez.

February 2: Preparations begin for another day of demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. The army is still deployed with tanks in different positions in and around Tahrir Square. Clashes between anti-government and pro-Mubarak protesters break out in Alexandria. Violent clashes rage for much of the day around Tahrir Square. Up to 1,500 people are injured, some of them seriously, and by the day’s end at least three deaths are reported by Reuters news agency. Pro-democracy protesters say the military allowed thousands of pro-Mubarak supporters, armed with sticks and knives, to enter the square.

February 3: Bursts of heavy gunfire aimed at anti-government demonstrators in Tahrir [Liberation] Square leave at least five people dead and several more wounded, according to reports from Cairo.

February 4: Hundreds of thousands gather in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for what they have termed the "Day of Departure".

February 5: Thousands who remain inside Tahrir Square fear an approaching attempt by the military to evacuate the square. The leadership of Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party resigns, including Gamal Mubarak, the son of Hosni Mubarak. The new secretary-general of the party, Hossam Badrawi, is seen as a member of the liberal wing of the party.

February 6: The Muslim Brotherhood says in a statement that it "has decided to participate in a dialogue round in order to understand how serious the officials are in dealing with the demands of the people". Banks officially re-open for 3.5 hours, and traffic police are back on the streets in Cairo, in attempts to get the capital to start returning to normal. Al Jazeera correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin is detained by the Egyptian military. He is released seven hours later, following a concerted appeal by the network and Mohyeldin’s supporters. Protests continue in Tahrir Square; there are reports of gunshots fired by the army into the air near the cordon set up inside the barricades, near the Egyptian museum.

February 7: Thousands are camping out in Tahrir Square, refusing to budge. While banks have reopened, schools and the stock exchange remain closed. A symbolic funeral procession is held for journalist Ahmed Mahmoud, shot as he filmed the clashes between protesters and riot police from his Cairo office. Protesters are demanding an investigation into the cause of his death. Wael Ghonim, a Google executive and political activist arrested by state authorities, is released. Some see him as a potential figurehead for the pro-democracy camp.

February 8: Protesters continue to gather at Tahrir Square, which now resembles a tented camp. Protesters in the capital also gather to protest outside parliament.

February 9: Labor unions join protesters in the street, with some of them calling for Mubarak to step down while others simply call for better pay. Massive strikes start rolling throughout the country. Thirty-four political prisoners, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood are released, according to Egyptian state television.

February 10: The newly appointed Culture Minister, Gaber Asfour, quits. Amid rumors that he will be stepping down tonight, Mubarak gives a televised speech which he says is "from the heart". He repeats his promise to not run in the next presidential election and to "continue to shoulder" his responsibilities in the "peaceful transition" that he says will take place in September. Protesters in Tahrir Square react with fury when Mubarak says he’s remaining in power until September. Protesters wave their shoes in the air and demand the army join them in revolt.

February 11: After tens of thousands people take to the streets across Egypt in angry protests, Hosni Mubarak resigns as president and hands over power to the army. The announcement is made by Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, just after 16:00 GMT.

February 12: People celebrate in Tahrir Square until early morning. Pro-democracy protesters start to clean the square.

February 13: Soldiers try to remove the remaining protesters in Tahrir Square and their tents are dismantled. Traffic flows through the square for the first time since the protests began.

February 14: Protesters leave Tahrir Square in the morning but a few thousand return later, most of them protesting against the police. The military leadership issues "Communique No 5", calling for national solidarity and criticizing strike action. It urges workers to play their role in reviving the economy. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112515334871490.html.

The GCI research team is wishing all members a Happy New Year and we want to thank our growing membership (over 29,000), for being part of GCI and for contributing to creating increased peace and harmony on Earth. May 2011 bring many positive changes to you and your loved ones.

Photo of a lunar eclipse by Fred Espenak.

As discussed in previous commentaries, the sun and other planetary influences can affect human health and well-being and they can also trigger other processes on Earth. The solar cycle 24 is picking up in activity and the sun is regularly spewing out solar flares. The last one emerged on January 20th, producing several solar flare C-class events, which were not directed at Earth.

However, the moon also has an influence on life and Earth processes. The winter solstice on Dec. 21, 2010 coincided with a lunar eclipse. NASA states on its website that the last time a lunar eclipse occurred during a solstice was in 1991 and won’t happen again until 2094. The next total lunar eclipse that can be seen in North America will occur April 15, 2014.

A lunar eclipse turns the silvery moon a yellow, orange or reddish color, because the earth blocks part of the rays of sunlight from reaching the moon. A total lunar eclipse is so beautiful, because Earth’s atmosphere is filtering and refracting out the blue colored light, and depending on the amount of particles in the atmosphere, the moon can have different colorings. (For more information: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros151.html, photo above is from the NASA website, by Fred Espenak).

Human behavior and the moon phases:

The notion that the phases of the moon can influence human behavior is ancient, and is reflected in the origins of the word "lunacy" (luna = moon). An excerpt from Wikipedia on the origin of the word "lunatic" states: "The word lunatic is borrowed from the Latin ‘lunacus’, in turn stemming from ‘luna’ (moon), and denotes the traditional link made in folklore between madness and the phases of the moon." The authors Owens and McGowan report in an article (The German Journal of Psychiatry, 2006) that a high proportion of health professionals continue to hold the belief that the moon can in some way influence human behavior. Angus (1995, unpublished MSc study) reports that 43% of healthcare professionals believe the lunar cycle influences human behavior. A study with the title "Lunacy" by Danzl, published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine in 1987 found that 80% of emergency room nurses and 64% of physicians agree that the moon affects their patients’ behavior. A Russian study (Lucatelli and Pane, Biofizika, 1995) found that in some cases of manic-depressive illness, "Planetary locations in relation to the lunar month could be correlated with the susceptibility to bipolar manic-depressive syndrome." Also, the crime rate has been reported to be much higher during the full moon then during other days (Thakur and Sharma, 1984, Br Med J (Clin Res Ed)). Another example is many women report they have menstrual cycles similar to the moon cycle. However, Owens and McGowan (2006) come to the conclusion: "While a lunar effect on human behavior is a phenomenon which is accepted among health care professionals, the majority of contemporary published literature rejects the influence of the lunar cycle." This statement could change or be further confirmed with new data or different ways to analyze the data. Human beings consist of over 70% water and, like the ocean’s tides, the fluids in our body might be influenced and influencing us in ways we may not be fully aware of or able to prove. This might contribute to the ambiguous scientific studies available to date. Author and psychiatrist, Arnold Lieber, theorized that since humans are composed mostly of water (like the earth), our bodies might have "biological tides" that influence our emotions. He even wrote a book about it called How the Moon Affects You (1996).

Does the lunar cycle influence Earth?

Most people are familiar with the fact that the moon causes the tides in the earth’s oceans. This is because of the gravity forces between Earth and moon. Does the moon also trigger movement in the earth’s crust, which could lead to earthquakes? Many scientists working on plate tectonics dismiss lunar effects as triggers of earthquakes (Kokus, 1987, Cycles); however, some research has been carried out to study the influence of the moon in earthquakes. Kokus and Ritter (1988, Cycles) studied lunar phase triggers in 21 earthquakes. 14 occurred at the quarter phase, five at the full moon and two followed an eclipse. Some scientists claim that the lunar effect is gravitational, i.e. tidal (Ferulano, 1986, Hartzell and Heaton, 1989). A study of 2000 earthquakes demonstrated that they occurred when tidal forces where over the epicenter of the earthquake (Stetson, 1935). While the gravitational effect should be too weak to cause an earthquake, many studies show that there seems to be a lunar trigger. Herman and Goldberg (1978) state that the moon triggers particle flow which disturbs the earth’s magnetic field.

The effect of Lunar Eclipses on Earth

Eclipses are known to have an effect on the conductivity of the atmosphere, especially the E-region, which in turn affects the earth’s magnetic field (Bown, 1991). Stening (1989) states the largest effects of lunar tides on the geomagnetic field occur in the morning around the time of equinoxes. Though it seems that a lunar trigger is apparent, geophysicists nevertheless argue that the underlying processes remain obscure and, as discussed in previous commentaries, a solar linkage and possibly other factors also have to be considered.

Mitch Battors from "Earth Changes Media" made the statement in his Dec. 20, 2010 newsletter that earthquakes occurred within two weeks prior and/or two weeks after the last six full lunar eclipses. His speculation was correct that an earthquake would follow the lunar eclipse on Dec. 21, 2010. A 7.4 earthquake occurred on the same day of the eclipse in Japan (see table below).

Pachinyk, (2002) discusses that peaks in earthquakes around equinoxes and solstices also reveal solar linkage and that evidence indicates that there is an interaction between gravitational and electromagnetic fields.

However, when searching scientific literature, the connection between lunar phases and earthquakes are as ambiguous as the connection between the moon and human behavior. Lin et al. (2003) argue that there is a peak in small earthquakes (2.5 to 5) studied in Taiwan between 1973 and 1991, however, the authors did not find a correlation between larger earthquakes (larger than 5) and the lunar phase.

GCI data and the lunar cycle

As many of you know, the Global Coherence Monitoring System is using a magnetometer which monitors the magnetic frequencies in the ionosphere. Also, the IHM research team is hosting a Random Number Generator (RNG), which is part of the worldwide network of Random Number Generators maintained by the Global Consciousness Project (GCP). Looking at the data of the RNG located at our research facilities over a ten year period (see figure below), the lunar cycle is also reflected in the data. There was a significantly higher effect during the full moon phase.

Full Moon Synchronized Care Focus

GCI started a monthly Full Moon Synchronized Care Focus for GCI members during the December 2010 full moon. Many other groups are also using the energy of the full moon to help uplift the collective frequencies of humanity. We have not analyzed the full moon data of our magnetometer over a long period of time, but we hope to soon be able to uncover information on the possible effects of the full moon during the synchronized global Care Focuses and meditations.

It can sometimes be difficult to prove complex interactions between the sun, earth and moon and other planetary influences which have not been discussed here. Even if the science is ambiguous, we can still see that there is an interconnection between, the moon, life on Earth, the sun and the universe.

As lunar phases continue and solar activity keeps picking up over the next few years, more changes can occur in our lives which at times can feel challenging. In those times, it is important to remember how we can increase our own heart coherence, which is beneficial not only to ourselves but also to our social and global environment. We invite you to join us in GCI’s Global Care Room for Care Focuses and our monthly Full Moon Synchronized Care Focus, as well as follow your own personal practices to increase care and compassion for yourself and others.

I would like to end the commentary with the words of Henry David Thoreau:

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.

With much love and gratitude,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

In times like these, in which we have witnessed several 7+ earthquakes in August along with natural and manmade natural catastrophes – wild fires in Russia, floods in Pakistan, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the gas-line explosion in San Bruno, Calif. – many people are experiencing great stress and upheaval.

Growing numbers are feeling sincere compassion and care for the people, wildlife and environments affected. Global Coherence Initiative members and various prayer and meditation groups are sending out love and care to help uplift people affected, create global well-being and relieve suffering.

Last year, GCI sought a better understanding of the interconnectedness we believe exists between all living systems and the earth, and I would like to take this opportunity to report the preliminary results of the GCI Interconnectedness Study, conducted from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2009. First, I would like to start with some examples that illustrate interconnectedness between animals and Earth-related events.

Can animals sense earthquakes?

The belief that earthquakes can be predicted based on animal behavior has been around for centuries, and many reports and stories from eye witnesses support this.

In 373 B.C., historians recorded that animals such as rats, snakes, weasels and centipedes left the Greek city of Helice several days before an earthquake devastated it.

There are many accounts of pet owners claiming to have witnessed their cats, dogs or livestock acting strangely before an earthquake. Precisely what animals sense remains a mystery.

One theory is that wild and domestic creatures feel the earth vibrate before humans do. Some research suggests that animals detect changes in the groundwater level, increases in humidity or electrical changes in the air’s ions or radon gas released from Earth before an earthquake.

Because earthquakes are sudden events, geologists and seismologists have not been able to predict exactly when they will occur. According to estimates based on US Geological Survey (USGS) earthquake statistics, over 1.3 million earthquakes occur each year, but only about 130 of them are in the range of 6.0 magnitude or higher on earthquake scales.

Most modern scientific studies have not considered the possibility that the unusual behavior of domestic and wild animals occurring several days or weeks in advance of an earthquake could be related to it. Buskirk et al. (1981) reports, however, that of 36 earthquakes occurring from 1923 to 1978 in Europe, Asia and the Americas, the most unusual animal behavior occurred near the epicenters within one or two days of the quakes and the species cited were primarily domestic.

In 2008, two days before a devastating earthquake hit China’s Sichuan province; thousands of toads suddenly were seen moving across a bridge in Taizhou (April 26, 2009, see photo). Chinese authorities did not associate that event with the earthquake.

A recent study by Grant and Halliday published in the Journal of Zoology in 2010 looked at a population of Bufo bufo toads 74 km away from the Italian city of L’Aquila, where a devastating 6.3 earthquake hit in April 2009. For this study, the authors used very low-frequency and low-frequency electromagnetic signals to look at perturbations in the ionosphere, which have recently been linked with large earthquakes. Maekawa at al. (2006) established that the ionosphere is disturbed a few days to a week before an earthquake.

In the Grant and Halliday study, breeding toads were monitored at San Ruffino Lake in Italy. Scientists reported there was a 95% decline in the number of male toads on the lake’s breeding ground five days before the quake, which, as the authors state, is highly unusual behavior for toads, because they usually remain active once they start breeding. The number of toads on the breeding ground began rising after the earthquake. Also, pre-seismic perturbations were recorded in the ionosphere before the quake.

The presence of magnetoreceptors in toads and other amphibians may be used for navigation and enable them to detect small changes in geomagnetism and the magnetic fields produced in the ionosphere, and could also be useful in helping them evade impending earthquakes (Kirschvink, 2000). The Grant & Halliday study provides scientific evidence that toads react to seismic events. This interesting and documented case supports a type of interconnectedness between animals and the earth.

GCI’s Interconnectedness Study:

In the past, awareness of an interconnectedness between people and people and the earth and its solar system was strong among many shamanic, indigenous and religious traditions. Most of these traditions believe there is a universal consciousness that pervades and connects everything – the planet, rocks, plants, animals and human beings – in subtle and unseen ways.

Many in modern science now are beginning to accept that we indeed are all part of a vast web of connections that encompass not only life on this planet but the solar system and beyond. Today, the notion of interconnectedness is discussed by scientists and many others who have the challenging task of trying to prove that the interconnectedness of life is not merely a spiritual belief, but scientific fact.

Many studies suggest that this interconnectedness exists, but the more challenging task is developing an understanding of what forces mediate such interconnections. To demonstrate and understand how we are all interconnected is of greatest importance because it is critical for the global community to take increased responsibility and care for each other and the earth, which is sustaining life and providing its many resources.

Methodology:
A total of 1,643 GCI members from 51 countries participated in the study. There were 1,015 participants who filled out 15 or more of the biweekly surveys and 748 who filled out 30 or more. Enough valid data was obtained to conduct a meaningful statistical analysis. Study data was collected six days per week, with participants being given Sundays off. There were 154 survey days.

The main goal of the Interconnectedness study was to gain additional insights into the correlations that indicate interconnectedness among people worldwide to the rhythms and changes in solar and planetary geomagnetic activity.

Thirty-eight items in the surveys were subjected to a factor analysis that confirmed six valid scales; Positive Affect/positive feelings, Well-being, Anxiety, Confusion, Fatigue and Physical Symptoms. A single item related to dream activity also was included in the analysis.

Additional Data:
To gain a better understanding of the interconnectedness of participants with planetary and solar activity, correlations between the data obtained from the surveys and environmental variables from the National Space Science Data Centers (NSSDC), the OMNI 2 data set was examined. The OMNI 2 data set contains hourly resolution of the solar wind, magnetic field and plasma data from several spacecrafts that are in geocentric orbit around the earth as well as the L1 Lagrange point. (The L1 point is a point of equilibrium between Earth and the sun’s gravitational field, in which the pull is equal from both the sun and Earth ~225 rE, or Earth radii, in front of the earth.) The data set also contains hourly measures of energetic protons, geomagnetic activity indices – AE, Dst, Kp – and sunspot numbers. The following variables in the OMNI 2 data set had significant correlations to one or more survey scales and were used in our analysis. Below is a brief explanation of these five measures:

Geomagnetic Kp and Ap indices:
Daily magnetic field variations occur because of solar radiation changes. Magnetic field changes also can be caused by the interaction of Solar wind with the magnetosphere, by interactions of the ionosphere and the magnetosphere and by variations in the magnetosphere or ionosphere. Kp and Ap magnetic indices were designed to describe these variations in the geomagnetic field.

Kp index:
The planetary Kp index is used to find out if there has been a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field and the severity of the disturbance. The Kp index combines three hours of geomagnetic data measured at 13 magnetic observatories. It is reported on a scale from 0 to 9, with a number higher than 7 indicating a large geomagnetic storm.

The estimated planetary Kp index can be accessed on the NASA Web site: www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html

Ap-index:
The planetary Ap-index also is used for measuring the strength of a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field.

The A-index is an averaged daily index of geomagnetic activity derived as the average of the eight three-hour "a" indices from a set of eight monitoring stations around the world: www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/geomag/kp_ap.html. The Ap index is an averaged planetary A index based on data from a set of specific recording stations. The Ap index ranges from 0/very quiet to 400/extremely disturbed. An Ap index of 30 or greater indicates a local geomagnetic storm. The "a" is related to the three-hour K index according to the following scale:

K = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

a = 0, 3, 7, 15, 27, 48, 80, 140, 240, 400

Solar Wind Speed, Plasma Flow, Speed km/s:
The solar wind is a stream of charged particles ejected from its upper atmosphere. It mostly consists of electrons and protons. The solar wind streams off the sun in all directions at speeds of about 400 km/s (about 1 million miles per hour). The source of the solar wind is the sun’s hot corona. The solar wind is not uniform, however, and it can change speeds as the sun rotates and with solar flares. Earth’s geomagnetic field is what protects the planet and life from the solar wind, and without the geomagnetic field, life as we know it would not be possible on Earth. Variations in wind affect Earth’s magnetic field and can produce storms in its magnetosphere. (The data used in this report is from the Advanced Composition Explorer satellite (www.swpc.noaa.gov/ace/).

Figure 2.

This NASA picture depicts the sun and solar wind.

F 10.7-cm Solar Radio Flux index, from National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC): The sun emits radio energy with a varying energy level, depending on the number of spots on the solar disk. Solar flux from the entire disk at the frequency of 2800 MHz (10.7 cm wavelength) is recorded by a radio telescope. The global daily value is measured at local noon at the Penticton Radio Observatory in Canada. Currently it is considered one of the best indices of solar activity available.

The Ottawa 10.7-cm Solar Radio Flux is measured at 1700 UT daily and expressed in units of 10 -22 watts/ m 2/Hz.

PC (N) index, from National Geophysical Data Center: The PC (N) index is a 15-minute index for magnetic activity in the North Polar Cap (PC (N)) region of the earth. It is based on data from a single near pole recording station, which monitors the polar cap magnetic activity that is affected by solar wind parameters. The station, Thule, is located in the town of Qaanaaq in Greenland.

Results of the GCI Interconnectedness Study:
The beginning of solar cycle 24 was expected to start up again during the GCI Interconnectedness Study, but there was an unexpected delay in the start of the cycle and thus, very little solar activity in the form of solar flares during the duration of the study. Despite the delay, weak but significant correlations between the survey items and solar and planetary activity could still be seen. Stronger results would likely have been found had the activity of the solar cycle started as predicted, during the GCI Interconnectedness Study.

The following parameters from the GCI survey were found to be significantly correlated to the solar and earth parameters described above: Fatigue, Anxiety, Confusion, Dreams, Positive Affect and Well-being.

Table 1 shows the results of the correlation analysis. The relationship between survey responses and environmental variables is emphasized with yellow shading where the correlation was significant at the p < 0.01 level and also is noted with double asterisks (**). A positive correlation coefficient represents positive linear correlations, while a negative correlation coefficient (minus sign) represents negative correlations. If the two variables examined have a perfect positive correlation, the coefficient would be +1 and a perfect negative correlation would be -1. If there is no correlation, or a weak correlation, the correlation is at or near zero. A positive correlation occurs when both variables increase or decrease together. Negative correlations are obtained, when one variable increases while the other decreases.

Table 1. GCI Interconnectedness Results

Positive Affect was negatively correlated to the Solar Wind Speed (-.22, p < 0.01), Kp (-.25, p < 0.01), Ap index (-.24, p < 0.01), and polar cap magnetic activity (-.32, p < 0.01). In other words, when Solar Wind Speed, Kp, Ap and Polar Cap Activity increased, Positive Affect among the participants decreased. Positive Affect was positively correlated with the F 10.7 index (.28, p < 0.01).

Well-being scores were negatively correlated with Solar Wind Speed (-.17, p < 0.05), Kp (-.21, p < 0.01) Ap-index (-.20, p < 0.05) and polar cap magnetic activity (-.24, p < 0.01). Well-being was positively correlated to the Solar Radio Flux F 10.7 index (.20, p < 0.05).

Fatigue on the other hand is positively correlated to Solar Wind Speed (.32, p < 0.01), Kp (.28, p < 0.01), Ap index (.27, p < 0.01), and polar cap magnetic activity (.32, p < 0.01). Meaning, when Solar Wind Speed, Kp, Ap and Polar Cap Activity increased, the level of fatigue in participants also increased. Fatigue was negatively correlated with the F 10.7 index (-.34, p < 0.01).

Figure 3 illustrates the relationship between Positive Affect, Fatigue and four of the environmental variables Solar Wind Speed, Kp index, Polar Cap Activity and the F 10.7 Solar Radio Flux activity.

Like Fatigue, Confusion in participants was positively correlated with Solar Wind Speed (0.30, p < 0.01), KP (0.20, p < 0.05) and polar cap magnetic activity (0.24, p < 0.01), i.e. these negative feelings increased as the Solar Wind Speed, Kp and geomagnetic activity at the polar cap increased.

Anxiety also was positively correlated with Solar Wind Speed (.17, p < 0.05) and polar cap magnetic activity (-.19, p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with the Solar Radio Flux F 10.7 index.

Dream Activity was correlated with the Solar Radio Flux (.21, p < 0.05).

The physical symptoms scale did not correlate with any of the environmental variables, likely because of the lack of geomagnetic disturbance. The physical symptom scale included items such as headaches, backaches, muscle tension, fatigue, etc.

Results of quartile data analyses:
To further explore the relationships in the GCI survey data, each of the environmental variables were separately grouped into four signal-range quartiles. Quartile data analysis is, as the name suggests, a partition of the data into four sections, each containing 25 % of the data.

The lowest 25% of daily values for each environmental variable used in the analysis of the 154 survey days were coded Group 1 (low); the daily values ranging from 26%-50% were coded Group 2 (medium); the values from 51%-75% were coded Group 3 (high); and those ranging from 76%-100% were coded Group 4 (highest).

Independently, each of the survey’s emotion and symptom scales was compared and analyzed on quartile levels. For example, the relationship of each of the four quartiles of Positive Affect was analyzed relative to the corresponding levels of Kp as follows: The relationship of Group 1 scores, 0%-25% (low), of Positive Affect to Kp at it lowest – Group 1 – was analyzed; the Group 2 (medium), 26%-50% Positive Affect scores and the Kp Group 2 data were analyzed; etc. The four groups of Positive Affect scores were analyzed using a single factor ANOVA (analysis of variance) with Bonferroni post-hoc correction for multiple comparisons.

Each of the five environmental variables were used to create similar quartile grouping factors to evaluate the differences in the survey scores between groups on the days when the environmental variables were at different intensity levels.

The only significant result obtained for Physical Symptoms was for the Ap index (F = 2.7, p< 0.05). The post-hoc analysis failed to show any additional significant results.

There was a significant effect recorded within the four groups of Fatigue relative to the four levels of Solar Wind Speed (F=6.34, p < 0.001), Kp (F=5.46, p < 0.001), Ap (F=5.11, p < 0.01), Solar Radio Flux (F=5.58, p < 0.001) and Polar Cap Magnetic Activity (F=6.87, p < 0.001). Post-hoc analysis reveals significant differences between the following groups of activity levels: On days when Solar Wind Speed was at its lowest levels, Fatigue was significantly lower than on days when wind speeds were medium ( p < 0.05), high (p < 0.01) and highest (p < 0.001). Fatigue levels on the days when the Kp was low were significantly lower than the days when Kp was high (p < 0.05) and highest (p < 0.01). Similarly, Fatigue on days when the Ap index was low were significantly lower that the days when the Ap index was high (p < 0.05) and highest (p < 0.01). Fatigue was significantly lower on the days when the Solar Radio Flux (F 10.7 index) was at its highest (1 vs. 4, p < 0.01), on days when it was high (p < 0.01) and days when it was medium (p < 0.01). Fatigue levels on days when Polar Cap Magnetic Activity was at its lowest and highest were significantly different (p < 0.001). Fatigue on days when the Polar Cap Magnetic Activity was highest was also higher than the days when it was at medium (p < .001) and high (p < 0.05).

Figure 4.

Fatigue versus Solar Wind Speed (km/sec)
In Figure 4, the four levels of Fatigue scores are plotted with the corresponding mean quartile level of Solar Wind Speed (km/sec) for reference. There was a significant difference between Fatigue scores on the days when Solar wind was low compared to scores on the days when Solar Wind Speed was medium, high and highest.

Anxiety levels were significantly higher on days when Polar Cap Magnetic Activity was highest than when it was at its lowest (p < 0.01).

Confusion quartile levels had significant differences in relation to activity levels for Solar Wind Speed (F=3.86, p < 0.05); Kp (F=2.74, p < 0.05); Ap (F=3.47, p < 0.05); and Polar Cap Magnetic Activity (F=6.55, p < 0.001). Post-hoc tests showed that Confusion was significantly higher on days when Solar Wind Speed was at its highest compared to days when it was at its lowest. Confusion was greater on days when the Ap index was highest relative to days when levels were medium ( p < 0.05). On days of the highest Polar Cap Magnetic Activity recorded levels of Confusion were higher than on days when the activity was low (p < 0.01), medium (p < 0.001) and high (p < 0.05).

Positive Affect quartile differences in relation to the varying activity levels of Solar Wind Speed were as follows: (F=3.09, p < 0.05), Kp (F=5.00, p < 0.01); Ap index (F=4.87, p < 0.01); and Polar Cap Magnetic Activity (F=5.84, p < 0.001). The post-hoc difference for Positive Affect was between the low and medium Solar wind level days (p < 0.05). Positive Affect/feelings were higher on days when Kp was lowest relative to when it was high (p < 0.01) or highest (p < 0.01). Positive feelings were also higher on days when Ap was lowest relative to when it was high (p < 0.05) or highest (p < 0.05). On days when Polar Cap Magnetic Activity was at its highest, Positive Affect was significantly lower than when the activity was low (p < 0.001), medium (p < 0.05) or high (p < 0.05).

Figure 5.

The lower the Kp, the higher the Positive Affect
In Figure 5, the four levels of Positive Affect scores are plotted with the corresponding mean quartile level of Kp for reference. Positive Affect levels were significantly lower on average on days when Kp was at its high and highest levels.

Well-being quartile level differences compared to varying activity levels of Solar Wind Speed were reported as follows: (F=3.37, p < 0.05); Kp (F=3.41, p < 0.05); and Polar Cap Magnetic Activity (F=4.44, p < 0.01). Post-hoc analysis revealed a significant difference in Well-being levels in relation to varying Solar Wind Speeds: Well-being was significantly lower, (p < 0.05), when wind speeds were highest. They were lower on days when Polar Cap Magnetic Activity was at it highest relative to when it was at a low activity level (p < 0.01) or high activity level (p < 0.05).

In short, the analyses of the relationship of emotions and symptoms relative to the environmental quartiles yielded statistically significant data, especially for Fatigue, which had the greatest number of significant effects, followed by Positive Affect, Confusion and Well-being. It is interesting that the emotion and symptom factors – Positive Affect, Well-being, Anxiety, Confusion, Fatigue and Physical Symptoms – had significant results for the Polar Cap Magnetic Activity. Solar Wind Speed changes related to Fatigue, Confusion and Well-being. Changes in Kp and/or Ap indexes related to Fatigue, Positive Affect and Well-being. Fatigue is the only survey scale that showed statistically significant differences to Solar Radio Flux. Predictably, post-hoc tests for emotion and symptom factors on days when environmental variables were at there lowest levels vs. highest levels produced the most statistically meaningful differences.

For those interested in more detailed results and discussion, this will be available in an upcoming GCI Interconnectedness report and journal publication.

Discussion:
It is exciting to see indications of interconnectedness between the GCI members who participated in the study and the energetic factor such as solar and planetary magnetic field activity. This helps to confirm some of the research that has been discussed in GCI commentaries in the past. For example, environmental scientist Neil Cherry, 2001, reviewed a large number of studies that identified significant physical, biological and health effects that are associated with changes in solar and geomagnetic activity. Consider that the brain and heart rhythms and the Schumann resonances and geomagnetic field line resonances overlap, and changes in these resonances caused by changes in Solar Wind Speed or solar flares can in turn influence the function of human, and animal, brain and heart patterns (www.glcoherence.org/monitoring-system/commentaries.html, July 15, 2009).

Doronin et al., (1998) noted that the oscillations in the Kp index and brainwave alpha-rhythms have identical periods. Because of the global interconnection between solar and geomagnetic activity, the ionospheric waveguide, Schumann resonances and the human brain and heart, increased solar activity can disturb the biological rhythm of humans and animals and exacerbate existing issues such as Fatigue, Confusion, Anxiety and Dream Activity – as seen in the GCI’s results.

Although solar cycle 24 hadn’t yet picked up its activity during the GCI study period, correlations between the survey items and participants’ well-being could be made and even bigger effects would be expected during increased solar activity. To gain a greater understanding of interconnectedness during solar cycle 24, further studies may be undertaken by GCI in the future.

A big thank you from the GCI team goes out to all the members who took the time to participate in the Interconnectedness Study and helped add to the new science investigating the interconnectedness of people with Earth on a global scale.

We are looking forward to continuing on the path of exploring the web of interconnectedness of all living beings, the planet, the solar system and beyond.

In closing, I leave you with the words of modern artist, Alex Grey:

"The infinite vibratory levels, the dimensions of interconnectedness are without end. There is nothing independent. All beings and things are residents in your awareness."

With gratitude,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

Our Mother Earth has been very active since the beginning of the New Year.

Figure 1. Earthquake map 2010, by USGS.

Several big earthquakes occurred, starting in Haiti (January 12), followed by Chile (February 27), China (April 15), Taiwan (March 4), and Turkey (March 8), and many smaller earthquakes that had a lesser impact on human life, property and environment (Figure 1: earthquake map for 2010, by USGS). Many wonder if the number of earthquakes is increasing, but scientist say they are not becoming more frequent: (USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/
earthquakes/eqarchives/year/eqstats.php)

Also, the Icelandic volcano Eyjafalljokull erupted on April 14, forming a massive cloud of volcanic ash (Figure 2) that had an enormous impact on air traffic, with 27 airports closed for many days.

Figure 2.

Lava and lightning light the crater of Eyjafjallajokul volcano on April 17, 2010. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Recent scientific research confirms a connection between high energy charged particles in the ionosphere and earthquakes. A study conducted in 2008 by Jann-Yeng Liu, from the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research in Chung-Li, Taiwan, examined more than 100 earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 or larger in Taiwan over several decades. The results indicate that almost all of the quakes down to a 35 km depth were preceded by distinct electrical disturbances in the ionosphere.

Figure 3.

Geomagnetic index Kp, in red geomagnetic storm conditions (K>4). http://swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html

Solar activity is picking up in the current Cycle 24. Presently (May 10), the moderate sunspot 1069 is active. On April 3rd, the largest solar storm of Cycle 24, also called a coronal mass ejection (CME) took place. The solar wind hit Earth on Monday, April 5th and sparked the strongest geomagnetic storm of the year. The event registered a geomagnetic index Kp 7 (on a 0-9 scale, Figure 3).

Luckily the storm was not strong enough to interfere with power grids and satellites, but it created auroras in the Polar Regions (Figure 4).

On May 5th another solar eruption came from a spotless region near the sun’s southwestern limb, producing a bright coronal mass ejection (CME) and came to an end on May 9th. Extreme ultraviolet images from the Solar and Heliographic Observatory captured the solar eruption. (Figure 5), current images: (http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov).

Figure 4. by NASA.

Figure 5. Solar eruption on May 5th, by NASA.

As discussed in previous commentaries, the solar activity affects the Earth’s magnetic field. Some science is starting to emerge that demonstrates a possible connection between solar activity and Earth events like earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods and storms.

Not only is the Earth’s magnetic field affected by the solar activity, so is human health and behavior. Some of the scientific findings are discussed in more detail below.

The electrical currents from the sun also affect the human body’s magnetic field.

The environmental scientist Neil Cherry (2001) reviewed a large number of studies that identified significant physical, biological and health effects that are associated with changes in Solar and Geomagnetic Activity (S-GMA). He suggested that the Schumann Resonances (SR) frequencies that link solar and geomagnetic activity are what link solar activity to the effects on human health and behavior. The SR have ultra low frequency peaks at 7.8Hz, 14, 20, 26, 33, 39, 45, and 51 Hz, which closely overlap with the human brain (also see GCI commentary July 15, 2009).

Everything on Earth is driven by cycles. The "circadian rhythm" is a cycle every living being on Earth experiences, which is a roughly 24 h (daily) cycle (Figure 6). Prof. Franz Halberg of the University of Minnesota and board member of GCI, coined the term circadian and is widely considered the "father of chronobiology". Chronobiology is the science that examines cycles of living organisms as well as their adaption to solar and lunar related rhythms (Patrick at el., 2003). "Chrono" pertains to time, and biology to living organisms. The 24 h cycle influences biochemical, physiological and behavioral processes.

Figure 6. Circadian cycle, from Wikipedia.

The connection between the daily (circadian) and seasonal cycles and geomagnetic activity.

The human body is designed to adapt to daily and seasonal climatic variations. Environmental factors alter the hormone balance of the body, specifically the melatonin/ serotonin balance, which affect many physiological functions, e.g. blood pressure, breathing, immune system, reproductive, cardiac and neurological processes.

Research by Burch et al. (1996) and Rapoport et al. (1998) gives evidence that the melatonin levels are reduced during increased solar and geomagnetic activity. In rats, seasonal melatonin levels were correlated with the seasonal variations in the Earth’s geomagnetic field (Bartsch et al., 1994). Diseases like cancer, neurological disease, acute heart disease and heart attacks are all related to melatonin levels that are too low, as is accelerated aging. In the daily cycle, the blood pressure, heart rate, neurological, cardiopulmonary and reproductive functions are affected.

Since the fetus has melatonin receptors, an increase in sudden infant death is observed during higher Geomagnetic Activity (GMA). Also, reduced melatonin produces arrhythmic cardiac activity, e.g. cardiac activity dropped in rabbits during a magnetic storm (Chibisov et al., 1995).

In addition, clinical measurements have identified significant changes in blood pressure, blood flow, aggregation and coagulation, cardiac arrhythmia and heart rate variability during GMA events; all of these conditions are influenced by melatonin levels. EEG pattern, pulse rate, blood pressure and reaction time were measured in a group of people by Doronin et al., (1998). The authors noted that the oscillations in the Kp index had identical periods in the monitored EEG Alpha-Rhythm. This confirms that whole body changes occur in conjunction with GMA alteration by changing heart and brain patterns.

Another study by Pobachenko et al. (2006) monitored the Schumann resonances of the environment and the EEG in a frequency range between 6-16 Hz simultaneously. During a daily cycle, individuals studied showed variations in the EEG similar to changes in the Schumann resonances. Hence, the biological EEG rhythm is characteristic of the daily rhythm of the Schumann resonances. However, some deviations were observed for some individuals, which can be due to the individual’s adaptive ability. Due to the global interconnection between solar and geomagnetic activity, the ionospheric waveguide, Schumann resonances and the human brain (EEG) and heart, increased solar activity can disturb the biological rhythm of humans and animals and exacerbate existing diseases.

Increased solar activity and GMA is also correlated to a significant increase in heart attacks and incidence of death, myocardial infarction incidence (Villoresi et al., 1998), a 30% to 80% increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease (Oraevskii et al, 1998) and cardiovascular death.

Neurological Effects correlated to GMA: The brain is a very sensitive electromagnetic organ. The Schumann Resonances appear to interact with the brain, altering the brain waves and neurohormone responses. Geomagnetic storms are strongly related to human health effects and death. Altered EEG rhythms and GMA have been observed by Belov et al. (1998). Strong GMA effects were identified as stressors, while low frequency magnetic oscillations had a sedative effect. A 10 Hz signal stimulates people; while a 3 Hz signal slows them down.

Also memory and attention were correlated to GMA (Tambiev et al., 1995); rats were observed to behave more aggressively during GMA events (St. Pierre and Persinger (1998); GMA and war (Persinger, 1999); crimes and GMA (1-3 days after solar activity). Rajaram and Mitra (1981) found a correlation between patients with seizures in Calcutta and GMA; increase in epileptic experiences during increased GMA; increase in hospitalization for mental disorders, psychiatric admission and suicide; and increase in depression after geomagnetic storm. GMA is also a trigger for migraine attacks. Birth rates were observed to drop and mortality to increase during increased solar and GMA (Zeitseva and Pudovkin, 1995).

Cycles related to the solar cycle: Schumann Resonances are closely correlated with the solar cycle, which include the daily, semi-weekly, weekly, 13.5 day and 27-28 day solar rotation, semiannual, annual, 11 year and 22 year cycles (Cornelissen et al., 1998). Dimitrov (1993) found a 7.5 and 11 year cycle in malignant melanoma.

Halberg et al. (2009) found more cycles being related to the solar cycle: Terrorism 39 year and ~ 16 month component (solar wind speed and geomagnetism), ~ 7 day rhythms in heart rate, ~1.3 year component in systolic blood pressure and terrorism, ~10 months and 5 months rhythms reflected in sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrhythmia.

We can change the course of planetary events. While solar cycle 24 is becoming more active, affecting all beings on Earth, we can decide on how to react to these changes. It is important to remember that the increasing solar activity has a positive affect – it’s a time when opportunity and creativity can flourish along with increased individual and collective enlightenment. It’s an auspicious opportunity for advancing our intelligence on how to cooperate more harmoniously with each other and with Mother Earth. This can eventually lead to a global consciousness transformation and increasing peace. A few effective co-creative actions we can take through these opportune times would include committing to reducing fear, becoming more responsible for our own energy, and increasing love, care and respect for others and for ourselves. This can do much to restore balance and energetic alignment between Earth and the global community.

Many thanks to all who are caring and holding the vision of humanity in the state of joy, love, peace and health and a vision of a vibrant Earth. I would like to end this commentary with a quote by Albert Einstein:

"Our task must be to free ourselves – by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."

With much love and gratitude,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

With the start of the New Year, the GCI team is excited to announce that we now have over 20,000 members! We are grateful for our growing community and your contributions and care towards raising global consciousness at such an important time of the planetary shift. The future of our planet depends on all of us because we are co-creating the world we live in.

The Magnetic Sense of Animals

As many of you may be aware, a large variety of animals possess a "magnetic sense."

The Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field which is generated by the flow of molten material in the earth’s core and the flow of ions in the atmosphere. Amazingly, a number of animals are able to sense this magnetic field. Just as a compass helps us navigate by detecting magnetic north, animals that possess a magnetic sense are able to identify direction and navigate over long distances. It is not fully understood how these animals actually sense the earth’s magnetic field. However, researchers have found that each of these animals have deposits of biological magnetite in their nervous systems. Magnetite is a small magnetic mineral. The presence of magnetite is not a definite evidence for the perception of the earth’s magnetic field. However, these magnet-like minerals align themselves with the magnetic fields of the earth and might act like microscopic compass needles.

Migratory birds use magnetic clues to guide their journey during migration. When birds migrate over long distances they usually end up in the same place, year after year. One of the first concrete signs that animals can tap into the magnetic field was observed by chance in the fall of 1957 as Hans Fromme, a researcher at the Frankfurt Zoological Institute in Germany, noticed that several European robins he kept in a cage were becoming restless and were fluttering up into the southwestern part of the cage. A paper published in Nature in 2004 reported, "Resonance effects indicate a radical-pair mechanism for avian magnetic compass," suggesting that birds "see" the earth’s magnetic field with their eyes, where receptors sensitive to magnetic fields feed data to the brain through the optic nerves.

Also marine animals, like salmon, whales and turtles to name only a few, are known to migrate with the seasons, and studies of turtles reveal that hatchlings have the ability to sense the direction and strength of the earth’s magnetic field, which they use for navigating along their regular migration route (Triverdi, 2001).

Figure: Earth’s magnetic field, courtesy NASA

However, even animals not known for their migration habits display a magnetic sense, also called magnetoreception. Recent publications from a German research group (Begall et al, 2008), made the discovery that cattle (and other herd animals, such as red and roe deer) tend to situate themselves on a magnetic North-South axis, as if involuntarily directed by the earth’s magnetic field. These surprising results were discovered when satellite images provided by Google Earth were used to analyze herding patterns and behavior. However, the built-in magnetic compass gets out of alignment the closer the cattle get to high voltage power lines, and the cattle then align with the power lines instead.

But what about humans? Dr. Kirschvink of the California Institute of Technology detected magnetite in the human brain and heart. Some people report that they can sense magnetic North, however, it is not clear if the magnetite helps the orientation sense of all humans. It has been speculated that maintaining a symmetric position to the earth’s field lines somehow influences certain physiological processes. For example, the onset of rapid eye movement in sleeping humans is shortened in the E-W orientation of sleepers compared to the N-S position (Ruhenstroth-Bauer et al.,1987).

Not only is there a fascinating connection between mammal and human magnetic sense, but also processes in the magnetosphere and solar wind produce magnetic waves which influence us.

The presence of Ultra Low Frequencies (ULF) has already been mentioned in previous commentaries. The GCI team is pleased to now have the ability see these ULF waves (also called geomagnetic pulsations) in the spectrogram data we are recording due to the new magnetometers we are using. These waves overlap closely with the frequencies of the heart, while Schumann resonances overlap with the frequencies of the brain waves. (To see the Live Data, click here).

Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves on the Earth are produced by processes occurring in the magnetosphere and by the solar wind. Some of these waves originate as far away as the Sun and are carried by the solar wind, while other sources are much closer to Earth. There are many sources of these waves, both external and internal to the earth’s magnetosphere. ULF waves are created by a variety of processes in magnetized plasma. Plasma is the name given to ionized gases (see "Plasma Sheet", in the figure below) which is formed by the earth’s magnetic field.

In a magnetized plasma at ULF frequencies there are three wave modes and a variety of names used to describe each mode. Any force that moves the ions also moves the magnetic field (and vice versa). Hannes Alfven was the first person to describe the process that creates a low frequency wave which propagates along the magnetic field lines, for which he received a Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1970. Hence, this wave is named after him. However, the Alfven wave is only one type of wave which can propagate in plasma. In addition, a gas (such as the ionosphere) also supports sound or pressure waves which travel through the density the gas provides.

The nonspherical shape is due to the solar wind. The surface facing to the sun is flattened; while the surface facing away from the sun has a tail, also called the magnetotail.

The forces of the solar wind are carried by charged particles that are pushing against the earth’s magnetic field, thus creating distortions around a cavity of the Earth, named magnetosphere (see figure to the right). The magnetosphere is the region in space where the the earth’s magnetic field is present. In spite of its name, the magnetosphere’s actual shape is nonspherical. Its shape and size is determined by the magnitude of the earth’s internally generated field, the solar wind pressure and the interplanetary magnetic field. The particles carried by the solar wind create a tiny magnetic field that shifts as it flows through the solar system. Scientists call this the interplanetary magnetic field.

The following paragraph is a summary from: Sources of variation in the steady magnetic field, Robert L. McPherron, Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 04 Nov. 2009.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/229754/geomagnetic-field

Visible phenomena from the collision of charged solar particles with the earth’s magnetosphere are called auroras, or the northern and southern polar lights.

There are also other sources causing variations in the earth’s steady magnetic field. Waves originating in the outer regions of the magnetic field propagate along the fields and reach the earth’s surface where they can be measured. On reaching the earth’s surface they cause minute oscillations in the magnetic field, and are therefore often called micropulsations. Magnetic pulsations have been classified into two types: pulsations continuous (Pc) and pulsations irregular (Pi). Because the frequencies are so low, they are usually characterized by their period of oscillation or the time it takes them to complete one cycle (periods from 1 to 1,000 seconds), rather then by their frequency as expressed in the number of cycles occurring in a second. There are a variety of interesting mechanisms that produce such low frequency waves. One mechanism is the resonant oscillation of the earth’s main magnetic field in response to interactions with the solar wind. In simple words, we can imagine a wave travelling along a stretched string. The magnetic field line tension is analogous to string tension, and when the magnetic field is "plucked" by a perturbation, the disturbance propagates along the field line.

In summary, the ULF waves seen on Earth contain information on about the processes that created them and the regions through which they have traveled. Each type of magnetic pulsation is further subdivided into frequency bands or ranges that roughly correspond to the specific phenomena that created them (Jacobs et al, 1964).

Figure 1: Irregular Pulsations

Figure 2: Continuous Pulsations

The first class of pulsations is characterized by their irregular form and is divided into two sub-groups, depending on their period (figure 1).

The second class, known as Pc, covers the whole range of pulsations with periods from 0.2 to 600 s (figure 2).

On the spectrogram, these resonant or continuous magnetic waves can be seen between 0.001Hz and 5 Hz (see green arrow in figure 3 below).

A segment of Pc-1 frequencies can be seen in figure 4 in the range of 0.2-5Hz.

The Pc1 waves are often created as the solar wind compresses the magnetosphere facing the sun. They then move towards the ionosphere along the magnetic field lines, interact with the ions and fields they encounter and finally end up being measured on the ground, (which was first observed by Sucksdorff in 1936).

Figure 3

Figure 4

The Impact of Pc Frequencies On Humans and Animals

Scientific research has reported that an increase in Pc-1 frequencies can affect the human cardiovascular system because Pc-1 frequencies are in a comparable range with those of the human heartbeat and rhythms (Kleimenova et al., 2007).

A study carried out in India on animals and humans also demonstrated that humans and animals can be affected by Pc frequencies (Subrahmanyam et al., 1985). The experiments on the animals showed changes in the electrophysiological, neurochemical and biochemical parameters. The following results were observed:

• Changes in the cardiac functions during exposure to 0.01 Hz and 0.1 Hz frequency waves.
• Biochemically: the exposure to 0.01 Hz to 0.1 Hz (facing North), caused an increase in blood sugar in animals.
• Brainwaves (EEG): An accentuation of alpha and beta rhythms was observed in humans facing East, indicating a state of restful mental alertness. Yoga practitioners had a more prominent accentuation of alpha and beta waves. The subjects felt calm and relaxed and reported a state of pleasant feelings.
• In normal subjects facing North, the EEG was reduced considerably (as compared to before the recording). The subjects experienced uneasiness, confusion and restlessness and a lack of sense of well-being when subjected to the pulsating fields. Some complained of headaches. The effects were less severe in yoga practitioners.

Obviously, the geographic location will impact the experience of humans and animals, when exposed to the magnetic waves in the Pc-1 range and more experimentation is required to study the effects at different geographical locations.

Subrahmanyam et al., 1985, found, that yoga practitioners were able to better remain in balance when subjected to stress generating fields. Almost two decades of stress research carried out by the Institute of HeartMath also provides evidence that humans are better able to adjust to stress when trained in heart coherence. The advantage of heart coherence is that even for people with very little time to spare, a few minutes of daily heart coherence practice can help to significantly reduce daily stress.

Much still has to be learned about the processes that generate the Pc waves and the GCI team is continuing to work on observing these waves in regards to our global coherence research. We hope to be able to report more concrete results in the future.

Time seems to be moving quickly and as we begin 2010 lets join our hearts’ intentions together in love as we acknowledge, honor and give gratitude and appreciation for those who have contributed both energetically and monetarily to GCI from around the world.

With gratitude,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

Much has happened since my last GCI commentary. New members are joining the GCI community from around the world and the membership has surpassed 17,000. In the research aspect of GCI, we have been testing a new sensor design since June 2009. Some of the members have noticed the brighter colors in our spectrogram data, which are due to the higher sensitivity of the sensor. The new sensor utilizes magnetic antennas and an induction coil with a low noise amplifier. The advantage of this new sensor is the compact design. Also ultra low frequencies, called geomagnetic pulsations, from 1 to 1,000 hertz can now be detected by the sensor.

In the graph above, these geomagnetic pulsations are indicated by the green arrow, below the 7.8 Hz Schumann resonances. So far we have only seen the geomagnetic pulsations during night time.

The Sun is in the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century.

The number of sunspots is an indicator of overall solar activity, in particular the sun’s output of UV radiation. The number of sunspots also correlates with the number of solar flares. Daily sunspots can vary between 0-200 or more. A sunspot-rich highly active sun causes an increase in the plasma density at the upper edge of the atmosphere, which is called the ionosphere. Weeks and sometimes whole months have recently gone by without a single sunspot. According to NASA, this solar quiet has dragged out for over two years, prompting some observers to wonder if the sun is napping! Scientists, however, are observing the reemergence of sunspots and it appears that the next 11 year Solar Cycle 24 is beginning to pick up slowly. See the graph for the sunspot cycle from 1995 to the present and the predicted Solar Cycle 24 by NASA above.

Interaction between the Sun and the Earth

The following paragraph is based on personal communication with Dr. Friedemann Freund of NASA.

A sunspot-rich highly active sun causes an increase in the plasma density at the upper edge of the atmosphere, which is called the ionosphere. The plasma density is particularly high over the sun-lit side of the Earth, corresponding to a large number of ions and free electrons. These ions and electrons cause the ionosphere to be electrically highly conductive. As the Earth rotates, the Earth’s magnetic field also rotates. This creates an interesting condition somewhat akin to an electric motor: as the Earth’s magnet turns underneath the stationary, electrically conductive plasma on the sun-lit side of the globe, the plasma forms current vortices above the northern and southern hemispheres. They flow 100 km and more above us. They carry several hundred thousand amperes. As the Earth turns underneath, these current vortices induce – in a diurnal pattern – electric currents in the Earth’s oceans and the Earth’s continents. In the solid Earth these induced currents produce a force that pushes the Earth’s crust into different directions depending on the time of the day. Integrated over sections of the Earth’s crust that behave as rigid plates, these forces can carry energy equivalent to magnitude 5 or larger earthquakes. When solar flares arrive at Earth, they impact the ionosphere, deform it and cause extra high levels of ionization. Thus they cause extra large induced currents in the solid Earth and extra large forces.

What is described here is a fascinating interplay between the sun and the Earth, mediated by the ionosphere. The forces produced in the solid Earth can be felt anywhere, on all continents. They follow a diurnal pattern, a seasonal pattern and a decadal pattern linked to the sun’s activity. In stable regions of the continental crust, e.g. in seismically inactive regions, the effect of these forces may be subtle and difficult to discern. In seismically active regions, however, their effect can be seen in a striking way in their capacity to trigger earthquakes. This triggering takes place when the vector of the induced forces coincides with the local tectonic stress vectors and when rocks along some faults are already stressed to near the breaking point. Under these conditions the induced forces are often enough to push the system "over the edge" and trigger earthquakes. The observed diurnal, seasonal and decadal variations in the seismicity patterns around the world are probably the most striking expression of these forces that come to us, ultimately, from the sun.

One of the remarkable effects of the induced forces is that they can stress the rocks at depth to the point where they release large numbers of highly mobile electronic charge carriers. These charge carriers, called positive holes, can spread through kilometers of overlying rocks and come to the Earth’s surface. There they set up very steep, though microscopically short-range electric fields. When these fields reach high enough values to field-ionize air molecules, the air begins to be filled with positive ions. The medical community has known for decades that positive airborne ions increase human moods and activity.

Interaction between the Sun and human excitability

As mentioned in previous commentaries, solar flares have not only been associated with global weather patterns, but also human social activity.

A.L. Tchijevsky
(1897-1964)

During World War I, A. L. Tchijevsky, a Russian professor of Astronomy and Biological Physics, noticed that particularly severe battles followed solar flares during the sunspot peak period of 1916-17. Intrigued by the connection of human behavior to solar physics, Tchijevsky constructed an "Index of Mass Human Excitability". He compiled the histories of 72 countries from 500 BC to 1922 AD to provide a database to articulate his correlations. After rating the most significant events, Tchijevsky found that fully 80% of the most significant human events occurred during the 5 years or so of maximum sunspot activity.

The solar connection to terrestrial events has been studied by scientists ever since then, but most of the focus has been on the sun itself and on the impact of the solar cycle on the climate, weather, agriculture, commodity markets and other non-human phenomenon.

When the data is examined, it appears that when solar-geomagnetic activity is changing most rapidly and is on the ascent or on the descent of a solar cycle, when solar spots are rapidly increasing or diminishing respectively, it has the greatest potential to affect human moods, behavior patterns, creativity and historical trends.

Throughout history, cultures such as Egyptian, Hopi, Ancient Indian, Mayan, Aztec and Chinese, believed that their collective behavior could be influenced by the sun. Seers such as the famous psychic Edgar Cayce, claimed that humans meditating together could influence solar activity and that such meditations can help to establish a more peaceful future and reduce individual and collective stress. More and more groups are continuously forming with this intention. They are stanch believers that prayer, meditations and collective intentions, over time, can help upgrade consciousness and facilitate positive outcomes for the planetary whole. This is especially relevant during times of increased "human excitability," and hence increased creativity and opportunity available from the energy influxes which occur during the increase of solar activity.

Evidence for this is provided from a historical study conducted by Suitbert Ertel ("Bursts of creativity correlate with solar activity"-1997) who examined the association between solar activity and oscillations in human creativity. Using time series analysis he examined the periods of flourishing and years of increased creativity in science and the arts (e.g. painting, poetry and fiction). The results clearly show that during increased solar activity, human creative activity also peaks. Tchijevsky contributes this observation to the fact that the influence on the human nervous system is greatest when the amount of emitted energy by the sun and radiation of the earth are greatest.

We are at the beginning of the next Solar Cycle 24, which will increase over the next four to six years. There are always pessimistic and fear-based projections related to any new energetic cycles that have an interactive influence with the planet. However, the increasing light and coherence on the planet facilitates new choices and the power to change our responses to energy influxes. That’s what the global consciousness shift is about: a chance to elect heart-based choices, then take charge and do things differently and respond with more consciousness, respect, love and compassion. It’s time to end the tendency to create and repeat the same old stress-producing "play-outs" each time there in an energy influx on the planet—such as solar activity and other energetic influences—that could bring benefits and creative opportunities to help humanity spiral upward towards the next dimension of active intelligence and heart-based living.

More and more people are realizing that solar and universal energetic influxes are part of a natural cycle—they are not "out to get us". Their effects depend on how we choose to respond to them. These influxes can be a great add-on to humanity. Yet people have to take responsibility for their own energy and elect to use this creative energy influx to create deeper connections and more caring interactions with each other and Mother Earth. The GCI’s intention is to help provide self-transformational tools and technologies that help people align with their higher potentials for empowerment, in order to facilitate positive global change during the influx of the next solar cycle.

The GCI hypothesizes that:

1. All living things are interconnected and that we communicate with each other via our biological and electromagnetic fields.
2. Not only are humans affected by such energetic fields, but conversely the Earth’s energetic systems are also influenced by collective human emotions and consciousness. Much of the planetary field environment is made up of the collective consciousness of the inhabitants.
3. Large numbers of people intentionally creating heart-coherent states of care, love, compassion and appreciation will generate a coherent standing wave that can help offset the current planetary-wide wave of stress, discord and incoherence.

A major factor in the global consciousness shift is enough people realizing the need to become more self-responsible for their own energy, thoughts, feelings and actions. It is each person’s responsibility to establish balance within oneself and with the Earth. Every action counts, and by "taking charge" and increasing our coherence baseline, this shift and consciousness upgrade will be reflected in the global field environment as well. This in turn will create a mutually beneficial feedback loop between human beings and the Earth’s energetic systems.

Though not fully proven yet, we at the GCI research center feel that using our heart’s intelligence to balance and manage our mental and emotional systems, along with meditations to increase our coherence, will raise our personal frequency pitch and energetically align us with the creative opportunities and benefits that can come with this next cycle of solar activity. More people are becoming aware that they have a choice in how they interact with new energy influxes—be they spiritual, astrological, solar, lunar, environmental or social.

The Global Coherence Initiative is only one of the many emerging groups working to facilitate the planetary shift in these adventuresome and sometimes challenging times. No facilitation is "more important" than another. With a noncompetitive spirit and genuine care, all groups and individuals add a helpful piece to the grid and are energetically connected to each other at the heart level to serve the greater whole. We at the GCI honor and appreciate the love and care these groups and individual light workers from all over the world have put into this cause.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

In this commentary I would like to focus on this question: Is there a connection between solar activity, geomagnetic storms and the Schumann resonances and human health and behavior?

In the last commentary, I discussed the Schumann resonances. Like a tuning fork, the earth has natural sound frequencies and these are called Schumann resonances. There are about 1000 lightning storms at any given moment worldwide, which excite the cavity. These resonances form in the conductive ionosphere which acts as a wave-guide. The limited dimensions of the earth cause this wave-guide to act as a resonant cavity for electromagnetic (EM) waves in what are extremely low frequencies bands (see figure below).

The lowest-frequency mode of the Schumann resonances is approximately 7.83 hertz (Hz), with a daily variation of about ± 0.5 Hz. The other frequencies are 14, 20, 26, 33, 39 and 45 Hz.

At the time physicist W.O. Schumann published the results of his research about these resonances in the journal Technische Physik, a Dr. Ankermüller, a physician, immediately made the connection between the Schumann resonances and the alpha rhythm of brain waves. He found the thought of the earth having the same natural resonance as the brain very exciting and contacted Professor Schumann, who in turn asked a doctoral candidate to look into this phenomenon. This doctoral candidate was Herbert König, who became Schumann’s successor at Munich University. König demonstrated a correlation between Schumann resonances and brain rhythms. He compared human EEG recordings with the natural electromagnetic fields of the environment (1979) and found that the first five Schumann resonances, 0-35 Hz, to be within the same frequency range as the brain waves in a human EEG and the 7.8 Hz signal to be very close to the brain’s alpha rhythm frequency.

The first five Schumann resonances overlap with the brain frequency bands. Note: Brain waves are grouped according to their frequencies and are labeled with Greek letters. Their most common frequencies include alpha, beta, delta and theta.

State Frequency Range State of Mind   Delta 0.5Hz - 4Hz This occurs in a deep dreamless sleep or unconsciousness.   Theta 4Hz - 7Hz This is associated with drowsiness. It also occurs at first stage of sleep and during deep meditation, when we are awake but open to mental imagery. It has been associated with creativity, intuition daydreaming and fantasizing. Believed to reflect activity from the limbic system and increased activity is observed in anxiety, behavioral activation and inhibition.   Alpha 8Hz - 12Hz This is the major rhythm seen in a normal, relaxed adult. It is present during most of life. It is considered a common state during alertness but not actively processing information. Alpha has been linked to creativity (creative people show alpha when listening and coming to a solution) and mental work. Alpha activity is also associated with overall mental and body/mind coordination, calmness, alertness and learning.   Beta 12Hz - 30Hz Beta reflects highly active processing. Occurs during normal waking consciousness and outward attention. Slow beta: 12-17 is normal information processing and mental activity; Fast beta: 17-30 is heightened alertness and fight or flight, or anxiety.   Gamma 30Hz - 100Hz This is associated with waking states and can occur when we are simultaneously processing information in both brain hemispheres. Whales and dolphins also operate in these frequencies.

Since this first discovery, more scientific research has posited that Schumann resonances are very important electromagnetic standing waves, acting as background frequencies and influencing biological oscillators within the mammalian brain.

As long as the properties of Earth’s electromagnetic cavity remain about the same, these frequencies remain the same. Some of the changes that occur in the Schumann resonances are caused by the solar sunspot cycle as Earth’s ionosphere changes in response to changing solar wind associated with the 11-year cycle of solar activity. As the mean intensity of the Schumann resonances increases or decreases because of day/night differences, changes in solar activity, global weather, etc., our brains and nervous systems respond to the changes.

Resonance may be defined as the frequency at which an object most naturally wants to vibrate. For example: In coherent systems, one object may set another object into motion if it shares the same resonant frequency. If, for example, you strike a tuning fork of 100 cycles per second and bring it near another tuning fork of that same frequency, the second tuning fork will be set in motion. Even though it has not been struck, the second fork will begin to vibrate and radiate a sound merely by being in the same field as the vibrating tuning fork.

Similar to the tuning-fork example, evidence shows it is possible for the brain to detect, tune into and respond to a Schumann resonance signal.

The question arises: How are we able to tune into the Schumann resonances?

The answer is that our brain possesses Zeitgeber, a German word that translates literally to time givers and refers to external agents or events that provide signals – in this case, the Schumann resonances. These external signals help the human biological system to become synchronized with the daily rhythmic cycles of the earth.

Research within the last decade shows that significant alteration in solar and geomagnetic activity caused by such things as geomagnetic storms can precipitate significant changes in the intensity and stability of a Schumann resonance signal. This can take a Schumann resonance signal outside of its normal range and induce alterations in brain and heart synchronization and changes in the brain’s melatonin level.

Some ill effects associated with changes in solar geomagnetic activity:

• Altered blood pressure.
• Reproductive, immune system, cardiac and neurological problems.
• Mental disorders, depression and suicide.
• Increased hospital admissions, accidents and sudden death, as well as countless other stress-related conditions.

A number of human reaction-time experiments have been conducted relative to external events and Schumann resonances. In 1974, for example, König showed that human reaction times were significantly correlated with the intensity of the 8-10 Hz Schumann signal. Ten Hz have been shown to speed up reaction times, while 3-Hz signals from local thunderstorms have been shown to significantly lower reaction times. This phenomenon can be demonstrated by changes in EEG patterns and calcium ion uptake in the brain.

The effects of manmade electromagnetic fields on human health

The electromagnetic fields generated by power supply systems, telecommunications, appliances, computers and other technology produced by humans are extremely powerful and in some cases have been associated with increased incidence of cancer, heart disease, depression and other diseases. Exposure to strong electromagnetic fields in residential areas and in certain occupations has been documented as significantly increasing the incidence or risk of the listed diseases. Certain groups of people such as the elderly, children, women who are pregnant and the weak have been found to be more sensitive or susceptible to adverse effects from these fields than the rest of the population. (As is often the case with research, there are opposing opinions on the existence or extent of such adverse effects.)

Thus we see that the Schumann resonances, geomagnetic and solar activity influence human health and behavior. It is exciting to see that the study of Schumann resonances points towards the interconnectedness of all (us, our planet earth, the sun, and probably many other planetary factors we are not aware of yet).

Much more detailed research has been carried out, but it is beyond the scope of this commentary to go into it.

So, in summary, researchers have found evidence indicating that human health and behavior appear to be affected by changes in Schumann resonances. Also, many scientists believe these resonances may be important in human biological cycles.

Possible future considerations for scientists with respect to the Schumann resonances include learning why some people are adversely affected by changes in them, why most people are not and what can be done to help those who are.

In addition to exploring whether mood and health are affected by Schumann resonances, researchers also have studied whether there is a link between historical events such as wars and social unrest with the solar cycle and resulting changes in ionospheric activity. I will write more on this subject in an upcoming commentary.

Allow me to mention two items not directly related to today’s topic:

• Because increased geomagnetic activity can cause an imbalance in heart-brain synchronization, we want to encourage you to practice coherence regularly to help you maintain that balance.
• You probably have received e-mails about the GCI’s current Interconnectedness Study, which is aimed at helping us gain a more holistic picture of human health and behavior and how these are influenced by various planetary factors. We will keep you informed about the results. A likely second Interconnectedness Study, in case you missed out on this one, should take place in about six months.

Remember what Albert Einstein said: "Everything in life is vibration."

Until next time, best wishes for good vibrations in your life,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCI Research Team

First and foremost I want to thank all of you for providing so much insightful feedback to my last commentary. Have you heard, our global coherence community now has over 13,000 members?

Two major events have happened since my last update: A 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Italy claimed the lives of nearly 300 people and left 29,000 homeless; and the swine flu outbreak, which had reached 2,500 confirmed cases worldwide as of May 8 and resulted in 44 deaths – 42 in Mexico and two in the U.S. – threatened for a time to become a pandemic, creating a great deal of fear and anxiety.

Many questions have been asked and I will address one of the most frequent: What happened during Obama’s inauguration? In the following, I explain a case study of data from our magnetometer, Maggie, as well as data provided by researcher Roger Nelson from the Global Consciousness Project random number generator (RNG) network. The information from Maggie illustrates the kind of data we are starting to see with the ultrasensitive magnetometer and what it may be telling us. We are on the frontier where new science is created, and we are glad you are on board with us.

For those interested in the scientific background, I will continue to explain some more basics behind GCI and the ionosphere and magnetometer data. Feel free to scroll down to the data related to Obama’s inauguration if you would like to skip this science.

Earth’s Atmosphere, Schumann Resonance and the Ionosphere

As mentioned in the previous commentary, the Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air reaching over 350 miles into space. The atmosphere is essential for life on the planet. It provides the air we breathe, water is recycled and the ozone layer protects us from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light, which can cause skin cancer. The atmosphere has four layers, the troposphere (about 0-10 miles), stratosphere (about 10-30 miles), mesosphere (about 30-50 miles) and thermosphere about 50-375 miles, see figure from NASA below).

Within the thermosphere is a band called the ionosphere that begins about 50 miles out from the Earth’s surface and extends out to about 180 miles. It consists of charged particles. This highly dynamic region is constantly exposed to the full intensity of the sun; harsh ultraviolet radiation is breaking down molecules and atoms. Highly charged ions and free electrons therefore fill the ionospheric layers. A solar storm can pump charged particles into the magnetosphere and ionosphere. The ionosphere consists of three basic layers: D, E, and two F layers; during the night the D layer disappears, the E layer nearly disappears and the F layers combine (see figure from NASA below).

Scientists have found that extreme solar activity drastically compresses the magnetosphere (the protective magnetic bubble carved out by Earth’s magnetic field) and modifies the composition of ions in the near-Earth space. These changes and disruptions in the ionosphere are detected by magnetometers.

Such increased solar activity affects the ionosphere, upper atmosphere, and Earth’s weather. This is why monitoring and forecasting its impact on near-Earth space is becoming increasingly critical to safeguarding daily life on Earth.

You can watch the effect of extreme solar activity on Earth’s magnetosphere by following this link: www.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/hires/watchingsola.gif.

Schumann Resonances:

Schumann resonances (SR) are the electromagnetic frequencies of the Earth-ionosphere cavity (see figure below) and were first predicted by W.O. Schumann (1952). Electromagnetic impulses, like those from global lightening flashes (the world’s thunderstorm activity) fill this cavity and excite the Schumann resonances. Resonances can be observed at around 7.8, 14, 20, 26, 33, 39 and 45 Hz (see the live data at www.glcoherence.org/monitoring-system/live-data.html).

The observation of Schumann resonances can provide valuable information about solar activity, world thunderstorm activity, properties of the upper dissipative boundary layer, the Earth-ionosphere cavity and climatic changes. It has been found in previous studies that the Schumann resonances can influence human health indicators such as blood pressure, and it is likely that they also affect cardiac and neurological disease, violence and war, some of which was discussed in my last commentary.

Random Number Generators (RNGs) and Maggie – IHM’s Magnetometer: Data and Intentionality

An RNG is an electrical device that randomly produces a sequence of numbers – either 0 or 1 – 200 times a second) which should be a random string of numbers that equal out to 100 0’s and 100 1’s and that results in a flat line when they are all added together. Roger Nelson started the Global Consciousness Project when he was at Princeton University and is a collaborator with the GCI (http://noosphere.princeton.edu/).

During events in which millions of people share emotions globally such as Barack Obama’s Inauguration, many people seem to come into alignment, or coherence.. In this case, the random production of 0’s and 1’s from 65 RNGs at host sites in 41 countries went out of balance: Small, but meaningful differences from expectations can be seen in the data (for example, more 1’s than 0’s were produced or more 0’s than 1’s). This is also true for events in which the power of group focus such as during meditations has been applied intentionally, with the goal of having a positive impact on troubled areas on the planet, whether it is a war zone or an area struck by natural catastrophe. Although RNG data can detect imminent events, it does not tell us what is in store.

Obama’s Inauguration:

RNG data

To help us better understand the global impact of Obama’s inauguration, we will examine the RNG data from the Global Consciousness Program (see figure 1. below) and our "Maggie" data.

The formal event specification for the inauguration was extended both before and after the swearing-in, attempting to capture the anticipation and the celebration of the estimated 1.5 to 2 million people in Washington D.C., and hundreds of millions watching the ceremonies on TV around the world. The event was set for 6 a.m. on the 20th to 2 a.m. on the 21st, EST.

The result is graphically quite striking, with no trend for the first four hours. Then there is a very steady trend showing smaller than expected network variance for about 12 hours, and finally a change to a period of relatively large variance. For a more detailed explanation, go to the Global Consciousness Project Web site at http://noosphere.princeton.edu/.

Maggie Data

The following two graphs show some preliminary data from Maggie, the magnetic field detector developed by the Global Coherence Initiative research and development team to monitor the resonances occurring in the plasma waves constantly circling the Earth in the ionosphere.

Figure 2 is a frequency-time spectrogram of the horizontal component of the Schumann resonances. Within the spectrograms, the power of the intensity at the right side of Figure 2 of a given frequency is coded in a color scale, with yellow being the most intense. The typically daily variations in the intensity of the resonances can be seen in the figures. The time of the presidential swearing-in at 12 p.m. EST on the 20th is noted by the red arrow. At the left of Figure 2 is a vertical section through the spectrogram showing the typical resonance structure for Jan 16 on the upper row and Jan 20 on the lower row.

The resonances are shown by the red lines that appear as horizontal lines with frequencies of 7.8, 14, 20, 26, 33 and 39 hertz. The daily time periods shown in each daily plot are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. The grey boxes were added to omit the data that was contaminated on several of the days by a local noise source – a solar charger that was being eliminated.

GCI researchers note that an interesting observation of this data is the pronounced change in the activity level of the resonances. As shown in both figures, there is a pronounced drop in intensity on the day of the inauguration that persisted during the three days following it. The GCI research team has been exploring changes in space weather and other indicators of ionospheric activity such as ion density that could explain the changes in resonance intensity. So far, the changes do not appear to correlate with other indicators that are known to affect ionospheric activity. However, it is possible that we are seeing an effect of human consciousness acting on global weather patterns.

Similar observations were made during another event, World Sound Day, on Feb. 14 of this year, but we are still exploring the data. Data comparable to Obama’s inauguration for RNGs and Maggie were obtained. This was a day when people around the planet took five minutes to send a sonic Valentine to the Earth with the heart sound "AH," which was filled with the intention of peace and love.

Obviously, so far we can only speculate about the meaning of the data, and we are excited about continuing this interesting journey of helping to increase global coherence. Might the alignment of many millions of people in most countries of the world cause a quiet period in the magnetometer data? Does the data correspond with uniting the emotions of many, allowing for more global peace and harmony? Because solar storms increase the intensity in the level of resonance, which in turn causes health challenges, violence etc., the data could be a first indicator that we are taking the right steps with our innovative research in monitoring the ionosphere.

So far we have taken an exploratory look at the possibility of global events being the catalyst for the kind of coherence that we think of as a global consciousness. A word of caution, however: Our research team knows that to scientifically prove our theory, the real effect only can be identified by repeatedly monitoring events that have similar impact.

In closing our commentary today, and in appreciation of Earth,

"The mountains, rivers, earth, grasses, trees, and forests are always emanating a subtle, precious light, day and night, always emanating a subtle, precious sound, demonstrating and expounding to all people the unsurpassed ultimate truth." –Yuan-Sou

Best wishes for much coherence, health and harmony to you all,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and a member of the GCI research team

Because of members’ many questions, I will cover some of the basics of the science behind the Global Coherence Initiative in the first few GCI commentaries. This will include sun-earth interactions and the ionosphere and how they affect our health and well-being. I will also explain how the magnetometers at our sensor sites work. Send your questions and I will try to address as many as possible in the GCI Commentaries.

There is a strong connection between the sun and Earth. A rotating molten-iron core in the earth generates a magnetic field that has fluctuated throughout history. The strength of Earth’s magnetic field has been decreasing steadily, at a rate of about 5% per century, since we began measuring it in the mid-1800s.

The sun has an 11-year cycle in which its magnetic field changes dramatically. Especially during the solar maximum, sun spots and solar flares that form eject powerful bursts of matter and energy into the solar system. Earth is surrounded by a bubble of air, reaching 350 miles into space, and within it lies the ionosphere, which GCI monitors at sensor sites. The solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic field by flattening the magnetic field on the sunward side and stretching it out on the downwind side, causing a so-called "magnetotail" (see image by NASA). The solar wind varies over periods as short as seconds. When solar blasts, and their associated magnetic field, reach Earth’s magnetosphere, highly energized particles can be extracted from the solar wind into the magnetosphere, producing auroras and causing a geomagnetic storm, which in turn creates magnetic-field variations and affects whatever lies within it.

When Earth’s orbit and solar flares intersect, many disruptions are experienced in radio communication, satellites, climate and our bodies. Life and the electrical potential of Earth vary with solar activity. In turn, alternating electrical fields, like those generated by geomagnetic storms, change bioelectricity, animals’ rhythms and blood dynamics.

Solar activity, geomagnetic activity and weather are correlated to changes in blood pressure, blood composition and the physical and chemical state of humans, causing higher rates of depression, heart attacks and deaths. This is reflected not only in individual and group biologic and emotional systems, but in natural, social and political systems as well.

Also, human aggression, as seen in national and international conflicts, terrorist attacks and wars, occur in cycles that can be linked to solar and geomagnetic activity. (More about social influences will be presented in an upcoming GCI report.)

Findings include the following:

• There is a statistically significant increase in male hospital admissions for depression the second week after geomagnetic storms. (Kay, 1994)
• On days after a geomagnetic storm, the incidence of myocardial infarction – heart attack – increases by 7%. (Cornelissen et al., 1999)
• Over a 30-year span, approximate weekly, yearly and 10.5-year rhythms have been observed in heart-disease related mortality in Minnesota. Medical officials reported an additional 220 such cases per year during maximal solar activity – a 5% increase – compared to years of minimal solar activity. (Cornelissen et al., 1999)
• Approximate weekly and yearly rhythms are observed in heart disease-related mortality. (Cornelissen et al., 1999)
• A Meta analysis of 47 studies shows the incidence of myocardial infarction increased on Mondays with a secondary peak on Thursdays and Fridays – correlating with solar and geomagnetic activity. (Cornelissen et al., 1999)
• The weekly rhythm in reduced heart-rate variability for middle-aged individuals, characterized by decreases on Mondays and Fridays, correlates with the weekly pattern of cardiovascular events and geomagnetic influences. (Cornelissen et al., 1999)

To better describe the sun-Earth interaction, Mitch Battros, a science writer, came up with following equation for the relationship between the sun and the earth:

Sunspots => Solar Flares => Magnetic Field Shift => Shifting Ocean and Jet Streams => Extreme Weather and Human Disruption

Solar cycle 24 has begun and it has been predicted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that it will be up to 50% stronger than its record-breaking predecessor, Solar cycle 23. The sun is predicted to reach its apex, or maximum (of activity) in late 2011 into 2012. What might this increased activity hold in store for us?

Variations in Earth’s magnetic field are measured by magnetometers. For the Global Coherence Initiative, IHM engineers have built a magnetometer nicknamed "Maggie," which is located in Boulder Creek, Calif. The GCI is establishing a network of global sensor sites to study these and related phenomena and to expand the dimensions of its research on emotional physiology, heart-brain interactions and the physiology of optimal health and performance. The function of this network is to investigate the relationship between the magnetic forces in the earth and ionosphere, as well as other more established measures of solar/geomagnetic activity and human biologic systems.

This Global Coherence Monitoring System will utilize a network of 12 sensor sites strategically placed around the world. Each site will include an ultrasensitive magnetic field detector to detect ionospheric disturbances and resonances, a geomagnetic static field detector and a random number generator (RNG). Data gathered from these detectors will be integrated with NOAA data to provide a picture of the earth’s energetics.

This is all the science behind GCI for this commentary.

Another area to be explored in a future GCI commentaries will be whether we are not only affected by the sun and earth’s geomagnetic activity, but if we as human beings, with our consciousness, might actually cause or influence the sun’s activity?

Edgar Cayce, the famous of the 20^th century clairvoyant, once gave a reading about sun spots in which he said:

Sunspots, as well as earth changes, are reflections of our own state of consciousness, a result of our own actions, the boomerang of divine law. Sunspots are reflections of the "turmoil and strife" that we ourselves have created, and our own mind is "the builder." The responsibility for earth changes lies squarely on our shoulders, and how we conduct our relationships with others has everything to do with the changing face of the earth. Earth changes are "adjustments" that have to be made because something is out of alignment. Just as we create chaotic conditions by our own out-of-alignment behavior, so we can create positive transformation by our loving attitudes and actions." (Reading #5757-1)

Finally, we’ll explore at greater length the effects of changes in geomagnetism and sun-Earth interactions on natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes and violent storms in an upcoming commentary.

With loving care,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCMS Research Team

I recently started working with the Global Coherence Initiative research team for the Institute of HeartMath and I am excited to introduce myself today.

My name is Dr. Annette Deyhle. I have been working in the field of earth sciences for over 13 years. I spent the last five years of my career at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego), at the beautiful surfer beach in La Jolla, Calif. My expertise is in the fields of geology and geochemistry. I was working on understanding the geology and chemistry behind earthquake processes, volcanism and plate tectonics.

Although I’ve been able to achieve a lot of success as a scientist and am well published, deep in my heart I felt there was more to Earth’s processes than current scientific explanations led me to believe. While the process of taking samples and scientific analyses are continuously improving, it is a well-known fact that it has not been possible to reliably predict impending earthquakes or their magnitude and potential for destruction (or other natural catastrophes). The last devastating earthquake, one of the eight most devastating in human history, hit China in 2008. When will the next big one hit – and where?

Are Earth’s processes a solely mechanical process, not predictable and unrelated to the doings of the inhabitants of this planet? Are we random victims of natural catastrophes, or is there a deeper connection between "Mother Earth" and its amazing beings, specifically us human beings? Could there even be a connection between the human consciousness and the earth, other planets and the universe?

Because I was longing for a deeper meaning in my work as a scientist, in which I could be of service to planet Earth and humankind, I joined the amazing team of scientists with the Global Coherence Initiative amid the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Boulder Creek, Calif. I will be writing commentaries regularly for GCI to keep you informed about its progress.

We are excited to have over 10,000 members in 56 countries already. GCI is on the leading edge of merging science with "spirituality": In other words, GCI’s intention is to support all of us in coming together as a global community, living in peace and harmony with each other and the Earth.

New science has always been developed by embracing the new and unknown. We would like to invite you to embark with us on this exciting journey of increasing love and care for this planet and its magnificent beings. Every few weeks, I will write a commentary about our progress with GCI, and I invite you to participate in this co-creative endeavor.

I will write about the intimate connection between the sun, earth and human beings in an upcoming update for those interested in the science behind GCI and also to illustrate the interconnectedness or Oneness of all things. The sun-earth connection is not a new theory. It is of importance to GCI, however, because we are working with geomagnetic fields and earth energetics as a measure for increasing global consciousness. Also, much is still to be learned about the connection of the global-consciousness and sun-earth interactions – as well as other planetary interactions.

Heartfully,

Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. and GCMS Research Team