The Sun prepares for the start of anew solar cycle with little activity, as explained by scientists from the National Solar Observatory (NSO) and the Air Force Research Laboratoy (AFRL), who compare the current situation with that experienced in 1645, when there was a period of solar inactivity for 70 years known as the “Little Ice Age“.
Experts have reached this conclusion after studying the star and detecting adecreased surface sunspots and decreased activity near the poles. As they have pointed out, this could even imply “a hibernation of the Sun” for the next solar cycle, that is, in the next 11 years.
NASA had already warned of this possibility in early 2011, after one of its scientific teams detected a solar inactivity during the last three years. In this sense, NASA scientist Richard Fisher has pointed out that the solar cycle, which usually lasts about 11 years, has its natural periods of low activity. However, he also noted that this solar minimum has been “historically slow” and is lasting “longer than usual.”
According to experts, the main symptom of this slowdown in solar activity has been detected in the lack of magnetic charge at its poles. Thus, Richard Altrock, of the AFRL, has explained thatif the poles continue to be unable to charge, the Sun “will lose more and more strength during the next cycle.even being able to stop their activity almost completely “.
At the momentthe Sun is in its 24th cycle since astrophysicists began recording solar phenomena, in the middle of the 18th century. According to Altrock, the period started late and slow and, in his opinion, “it seems that it will not be able to go back.” “If we are correct, this situationwould affect the earth’s climate from space exploration“He highlighted. Experts compare the current situation with that experienced during the period 1645-1715 in which solar activity was extremely low, and even sunspots disappeared from the solar surface for years.
