Solar cycle

• The Sun is set to reach the Solar Maximum in the next two years of the current solar cycle.

SOLAR MAXIMUM

• Solar maximum is a period of time during which the Sun experiences peak solar activity and its magnetic field reaches its strongest and most disordered dynamic point.
• During solar maximum, large numbers of sunspots appear, and the solar irradiance output grows tremendously.
• Large solar flares occur during a maximum.
• The solar maximum happens roughly in the middle of each cycle.
• Impact– The increased solar activity during this period can cause large-scale solar storms, eruptions and flares, which in turn can have devastating impacts on the Earth. It can potentially disrupt radio communications, the power grid, the internet and even have serious health consequences for astronauts.

SOLAR MINIMUM

• Solar minimum is the period of least solar activity.
• During this time, sunspot and solar flare activity diminishes, and often does not occur for days at a time.
• Solar minima are correlated with changes in climate.

SOLAR CYCLE

• The Sun is a huge ball of electrically-charged hot gas.
• This charged gas moves, generating a powerful magnetic field. This magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle.
• Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips.
• This means that the Sun’s north and south poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again.
• So far, astronomers have documented 24 such cycles, the last one ended in 2019.
• Solar minima and maxima are the two extremes of the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle.