Something weird is going on with the Sun.
the Sun. It is thought that the solar magnetic field is generated by a dynamo inside the star, a rotating, convecting, and electrically conducting fluid that converts kinetic energy into magnetic energy, spinning a magnetic field out into space around the Sun.
"About 60 years ago, they made an approximation with the magnetic fields – that they were small compared to the fluids on the Sun. Therefore, when the Sun is circulating, like our planet does, the rotation drives circulation, the heating of the atmosphere drives circulation, and with all this circulation going on, the magnetic fields just get dragged around with the circulation.
Once they spotted this, the researchers sought out and pored over as much historical sunspot data as they could get their hands on,They found that this overlap continued to appear. Towards the end of one sunspot cycle, as the sunspots appear closer and closer to the equator, the appearance of the next cycle's sunspots can be observed at the mid-latitudes.
"The sunspot cycle is a result of the interaction between these larger magnetic cycles," McIntosh told ScienceAlert."In other words, it's like an interference pattern. The magnetic fields want to cancel one another all the time."Based on the findings of the 'interference pattern', McIntosh and his team have arrived at predictions of the current solar cycle that are more in line with current observations than official predictions – the ones based on sunspot counts.
We don't usually see the solar poles, because of Earth's position orbiting the solar equator; but the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter will be swooping over right about the time a new cycle begins.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
11 Healthy Summer Essentials Every Family Needs For More Fun Under The SunTo help you get ready for a season of outdoor adventures, we’ve put together a list of healthy summertime essentials. 🏖️ mbgpartner
Read more »
Tangy Balsamic Pasta With Sun Gold TomatoesQuickly cooked-down Sun Gold tomatoes give fresh marinara vibes to this low-key summer pasta.
Read more »
Using the Sun as a Gravitational Lens Would Let Us See Exoplanets With Incredible ResolutionHave you ever seen wispy arcs and rings in astronomical images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories? These unusual features are caused by a quirk of nature called gravitational lensing, which occurs when light from a distant object is distorted by a closer massive object along the same line of sight. This … Continue reading 'Using the Sun as a Gravitational Lens Would Let Us See Exoplanets With Incredible Resolution'
Read more »
Does Sunscreen With SPF 100 Give You 100% Protection Against the Sun?Here’s the truth about high-SPF sunscreen.
Read more »