The sun has been very active lately, with sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and the northern lights all making headlines. This is all part of the sun’s 11-year cycle, which alternates between periods of high activity known as “solar maximums” and low activity known as “solar minimums.” Currently, we are heading towards the solar maximum, which means that solar activity is at its peak.
During periods of high solar activity, the sun produces more sunspots, which are dark spots on its surface. It also produces flares and coronal mass ejections that can trigger geomagnetic storms and lead to the beautiful auroras seen on Earth. May 2024 has been particularly busy in terms of solar activity, with NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory capturing the sun’s strongest solar flare on May 27.
One interesting phenomenon related to the sun’s activity is its reversal of polarity. Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field completely flips, causing the north and south poles to switch places. Scientists predict that this reversal will occur in the sun’s Northern Hemisphere between June and November of this year, with August being the median time. This reversal is expected to bring more magnetic energy to Earth’s atmosphere, which is great news for those who enjoy watching the northern lights.
In the sun’s Southern Hemisphere, a polarity reversal is projected to occur between November 2024 and August 2025, with January 2025 being the median time. This information comes from a study conducted by Cornell University.
Overall, the sun’s activity is a fascinating and dynamic process that has a direct impact on our planet. It’s important to stay informed about these changes and appreciate the beauty of natural phenomena like the northern lights.