Astronomers at the Indian Center of Excellence for Space Science in Kolkata believe that the peak of the 11-year cycle of solar activity will occur next year. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).
The Sun consists of hot ionized gas known as plasma. Large plasma flows and convection together create magnetic fields inside the Sun that appear as dark spots on the surface. These sunspots are comparable in size to Earth’s and are centers of intense magnetism that are approximately 10 thousand times stronger than our planet’s magnetic field.
Sometimes the magnetic fields of sunspots become disrupted, giving rise to magnetic storms such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections. These space storms emit high-energy radiation and launch large amounts of magnetized plasma into interstellar space. The strongest of these storms could cause serious damage to orbiting satellites, power grids, and telecommunications if they hit Earth.
Approximately every 11 years, the number of sunspots and the intensity of solar activity reach their peak, when the strongest disturbances in the space environment are expected.
According to new observations of the Sun’s magnetic field, activity in the current 25th solar cycle is highly likely to peak in early 2024. However, the event can also happen later; uncertainty in the assessment continues until the beginning of autumn next year.
Previous scientists warned About the risk of damage to satellites and power systems due to strong solar emissions.