increased changes solar activity changes the earth's solar radiation levels, thereby causing short-term warming cycles. sunspots are dark patches on the sun's surface that block hot solar plasma. although this blocking action might appear to reduce solar radiation, the opposite is true. surrounding sunspots are bright patches know as facular. these patches give off greater than normal radiation, and they are more powerful than darker, cooler patches. these means the total average energy over a 30 day solar rotation increase