Los Angeles, California – The sun is on the brink of a notable event: a magnetic field reversal. Happening approximately every 11 years, this process signifies a significant stage in the solar cycle. This shift in polarity marks the halfway point of solar maximum, the peak of solar activity, and indicates the beginning of the transition towards solar minimum.
During the last magnetic field reversal in late 2013, the sun experienced a switch in polarity. What exactly causes this reversal and is there any potential danger associated with it? Let’s delve deeper into the phenomenon of the sun’s magnetic field reversal and explore its potential effects on Earth.
In order to comprehend the magnetic field reversal, it is crucial to grasp the concept of the solar cycle. This cycle, lasting about 11 years, is driven by the sun’s magnetic field and is characterized by the frequency and intensity of sunspots visible on the sun’s surface. The period of heightened solar activity within a solar cycle is known as solar maximum, and projections suggest that the next solar maximum will occur between late 2024 and early 2026.
Within the larger 22-year Hale cycle, encompassing two 11-year solar cycles, the sun’s magnetic field undergoes a reversal before reverting back to its original state. As the sun transitions from solar minimum to solar maximum, its magnetic field becomes more intricate, lacking a clear north-south pole separation. By the time solar maximum concludes, the sun reverts to a dipole configuration but with reversed polarity.
The impending switch in polarity will involve a shift from a northern to southern magnetic field in the Northern Hemisphere, and vice versa in the Southern Hemisphere. This alignment will align it closely with Earth’s magnetic orientation, with both having a southern-pointing magnetic field in their respective Northern Hemispheres.
The reversal of the sun’s magnetic field is facilitated by sunspots, complex magnetic regions on the sun’s surface that can lead to significant solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These sunspots, forming near the equator, align with the existing magnetic field, while those forming near the poles align with the incoming magnetic orientation – a phenomenon known as Hale’s law.