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 currently predicted to occur in May 2013 and to be one of the weakest cycles since 1928.[2][3]
The unreliability of solar maxima predictions is demonstrated in that NASA had previously predicted the solar maxima for 2010/2011 and possibly to occur as late as 2012. Previously, on March 10, 2006, NASA researchers had announced that the next solar maxima 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.[4]
Film
There is an IMAX documentary about solar maximum called Solarmax.
References
- ^ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=37575
- ^ "New Solar Cycle Prediction", Science@NASA, 09 May 2006, Accessed 26 Mar. 2010
- ^ "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
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