Solar System Cycle

What is a solar cycle?

solar cycle, period of about 11 years in which fluctuations in the number and size of sunspots and solar prominences are repeated. Sunspot groups have a magnetic field with a north and a south pole, and, in each 11-year rise and fall, the same polarity leads in a given hemisphere while the opposite polarity leads in the other.

How does the solar cycle work?

The solar cycle is driven by the sun's magnetic field, according to NASA Space Place. Every 11 years or so, the sun's magnetic field flips so north becomes south and south becomes north. Changes in the sun's magnetic field affect the amount of activity on the solar surface.

What are the stages of the solar cycle?

The solar cycle can be divided into several stages, including solar minimum, rising activity, solar maximum, and declining activity. During solar minimum, the Sun is relatively quiet, with few sunspots and solar flares. As the cycle progresses, sunspot activity increases, leading to solar maximum, where the Sun is at its most active.

How does the solar cycle affect Earth?

The Sun follows a roughly 11-year rhythm of waking up and becoming very active before calming down again, a stellar beat known as the solar cycle. This affects Earth because it shapes space weather, determining how much radiation, magnetic field and particles the Sun flings out into space and towards our planet. What is the solar cycle?