Today, the activity of the sun is closely monitored thanks to the NASA solar dynamic observatory, which has launched a probe, Sdoon February 11, 2010. Indeed, the sun experienced 11 -year activity cycles, and was at its peak of activity in October 2024, according to the agency.
“The quantity of solar activity increases”
Solar eruptions, the probe reported several hundred, 200 just in its first and a half year of mission. For good reason: 15% are followed by new eruptions, shortly after. The solar rash is the product of an accumulation of magnetic energy in areas of intense magnetic fields.
“” “During solar maximum, the number of solar spots, and therefore the amount of solar activity increases. This increase in activity offers an exciting opportunity to learn more about our nearest star, but it also has real effects on earth and in all of our solar system ”, Explains Jamie Favors, director of the Spatial Meteorology Program at NASA headquarters in Washington.
The consequences of solar eruptions
The consequences of a solar eruption, or of this exceptional solar activity are varied:
- On Earth, we can see boreal auroes in different places in the globe, even in regions which are not usually visited by this type of celestial manifestation.
- These eruptions can affect satellites.
- Because of magnetic storms, radio and GPS can be affected.
“” Solar eruptions can have an impact on radio communications, electrical networks, navigation signals “Recalls NASA. Therefore, compared to solar storms, the less technologies, the better. This is the case in 1859, where the largest ever recorded took place in 1859, but the damage was limited to telegraphs. On the other hand, in 1989, disturbances were observed on the electricity network in Quebec.
When will a gradual decline in sun activity?
This phase of activity peak should still last a year, until the progressive decline of the activity cycle. Just as earthquakes are measured using a scale, the violence of solar eruptions also has the right to its own measures.
NASA classifies them according to their power, starting with B, followed by C, M and finally, class X. These categories are accompanied by numbers, to specify the extent of the event. Most class X solar eruptions are numbered from 1 to 9.
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