The solar physics community is abuzz this week. No, there haven't been any great eruptions or solar storms. The source of the excitement is a modest knot of magnetism that popped over the sun's eastern limb on Dec. 11th, pictured below in a pair of images from the orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).According to scientists this is sign of a new solar cycle.
Solar cycles generally happen in 11 years interval.Last solar cycle started in 1996 it was the 23rd as known. 24th solar cycle about to begin in 2007. Those solar cycles have effect on the human made powergrids and satellites. It may have impact on telecommunication and air traffic.
2 comments:
And what this solar cycle means? How many years the sun needs to go around the Earth? And meteodipendant persons like me will feel bad? :))) ( I remember... but it's interesting to precise)
Liudmila, Solar Flare activity (sun spots) has harsher effect on radio waves and other electrical devices approximately every 11 years, lots of 'static' caused by increased solar plasma radiation which comes about in 'cycles'. Likely tied to magnetic poles constantly moving inside the Sun.
Earths North and South poles are slowly moving as well. Within 100 years our North Pole will be in Siberia at the current rate of drift. Thank you DeBasis for the insight.
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