Solar maximum
Solar maximum or solar max is the period of greatest solar activity in the solar cycle of the sun. During solar maximum, sunspots appear.[1]
Solar maximum is contrasted with solar minimum. Solar maximum is the period when the sun's magnetic field lines are the most distorted due to the magnetic field on the solar equator rotating at a slightly faster pace than at the solar poles. The solar cycle takes an average of about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to the next with an observed variation in duration of 9 to 14 years for any given solar cycle.
Historic maxima
The last solar maximum was in 2001. The next solar maximum is predicted to occur in early 2013 and to be one of the weakest cycles in in the last 100 years[2]. The inherent unpredictability of the solar maxima and the entire solar cycle is demonstrated in that NASA had predicted the solar maxima for 2010/2011 and possibly to occur as late as 2012. On March 10, 2006 NASA researchers announced that the next cycle would be the strongest since the historic maximum in 1958 in which the northern lights could be seen as far south as Rome, approximately 42° north of the equator[3] This projection was based on research done by Mausumi Dikpati of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and David Hathaway of the National Space Science & Technology Center (NSSTC).
Film
There is an IMAX documentary about solar maximum called Solarmax.
References
- ^ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=37575
- ^ "Solar Cycle Process and Prediction", NOAA/Space Weather Center, 9 May 2009, Accessed 22 Mar. 2010
- ^ "Solar Storm Warning", Science@NASA, 10 March 2006, Accessed 26 Mar. 2010
See also
 | This astronomy-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |