How the Sun ‘goes to sleep’ may reveal future space weather risks
Researchers at the University of Warwick have identified a 'switch-off' point in the Sun's 11-year solar cycle that helps predict the intensity of future space weather. This discovery allows for more accurate forecasting of solar activity, which is crucial for protecting space-based infrastructure.
Why it matters
Improved solar cycle predictions are vital for mitigating risks to global satellite communications, power grids, and space exploration missions.
For decades, scientists have tried to guess what the Sun will do next, and mostly failed. Why? Because the star’s magnetic tantrums appear in roughly 11-year cycles, and no two cycles behave in the same way. Some are fierce, while others are mild. And sometimes they spring surprises that catch scientists off guard.Now researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a new method to predict the strength of the Sun’s next activity level. The researchers found a precise point where the Sun’s most violent space weather abruptly shuts off, like a switch flipping. That ‘switch-off’ point holds the key to forecasting the strength of the next solar cycle up to seven years in advance.
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