Solar Maximum

Source-This post on Solar Maximum has been created based on the article “See the sun’s surface rage as solar maximum approaches” published in “SPACE” on 22 February 2024.

Why in the news?

A new visualization from the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently shown the increase in activity on the sun’s surface as it approaches solar maximum this year.

About Solar Maximum

1) The sun goes through a natural solar cycle approximately every 11 years. The cycle is marked by the increase and decrease of sunspots, which are visible as dark blemishes on the sun’s surface.

2) The greatest number of sunspots in any given solar cycle is designated as “solar maximum.” Solar maximum occurs roughly in the middle of each cycle.

3) As the sun approaches the solar maximum, more brilliant explosions, dark sunspots, loops of plasma, and swirls of super-hot gas are observed.

What is the impact of Solar Maximum?

1) The increased solar activity can cause extreme space weather events, including solar flares and eruptions.

2) It can also disrupt radio communications and the power grid and have serious health consequences for astronauts.

What are Sunspots?

Description– These are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun (photosphere). They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface.

Size- These can be as large as 50,000 km in diameter.

Strength of magnetic field– These are relatively cool because they are formed at areas where magnetic fields are particularly strong. These magnetic fields are so strong that they keep some of the heat within the Sun from reaching the surface. The magnetic field in such areas is about 2,500 times stronger than Earth’s.

Region– These consist of a dark region called the ‘umbra’, which is surrounded by a lighter region called the ‘penumbra’.

Impact– These can cause disturbances such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Read more about- Solar flares

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