The current solar activity cycle is expected to peak between early 2024 and September 2024. This is one year earlier than previously estimated.
The peak of solar activity is called solar maximum. During this time, the sun’s magnetic poles flip. The sun will then become quiet again during a solar minimum.
The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) predicts that Solar Cycle 25 will peak between January and October 2024. The maximum sunspot number is expected to be between 137 and 173.
Solar activity predictions are important for protecting the Earth and near-space environment.
The Sun’s current cycle is approaching maximum activity which brings with it higher numbers of sunspots on its surface, more flares and more coronal mass ejections. A team from India now believe they have discovered a new element of the Sun’s magnetic field allowing them to predict the peak will occur early in 2024.
Yes, solar maximum can cause a slight increase in local atmospheric heating. This is because the sun’s output increases, which causes a small amount of extra sunshine over several years. This is especially true in parts of the tropical and subtropical Pacific where there are usually few clouds to block the sun.
A study found that times of high solar activity are on average 0.2°C warmer than times of low solar activity.
During solar maximum, the sun experiences a number of events, including:
- Sunspots
- Solar flares
- Coronal mass ejections
- Increased solar irradiance output
- Polarity changes
These events can cause:
- Large-scale blackouts
- Disrupted radio communications
- Damaged power infrastructure
- Harm to living creatures
- Satellites plummeting toward Earth
- Increased drag on orbiting satellites
- Satellite orbits decaying more rapidly
Solar maximum can also cause:
- Increased geomagnetic storm activity
- Increased Northern and Southern Lights
- Coronal mass ejections
- Charged particles thrown off the surface of the Sun
The solar cycle takes about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to the next. (Full article source google)
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