EN – The Sun: it explodes with a record number of sunspots

I created the sun More than 160 sunspots in Junethe highest monthly number in more than two decades.

Data confirms that the current solar cycle No. 25 since records began, growing at a much faster rate than Predicted by NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) And Which raises concerns about intense space climate phenomena in the coming months and years.

While space agencies have predicted a maximum monthly number of sunspots during the 25th solar cycle at 125, the star is now on track to peak at 200 monthly sunspots!

This is the “highest monthly average number of sunspots since September 2002!” Solar physicist Keith Strong Share a related chart on Twitter On Sunday, commenting that “June 2023 [αριθμός ηλιακών κηλίδων] It was 163.4, the highest reading in more than 20 years.”

The highest number recorded per month in a sun spot since September 2002! SNN for June 2023 was 163.4, the highest value in more than 20 years. The CM model now projects a peak for the SC25 just below 200, and the CM model at 125 (the SC42 was 116). Any Great Solar Minimum Believers Left Out There? pic.twitter.com/uw0JCeooe1

– Keith Strong (@drkstrong) July 1, 2023

On Sunday (July 2), one of those sun spots which are the darker and cooler regions on the surface of the star that contain strong and dense magnetic fields, which have produced strong solar flare an energetic flash of light that has caused a temporary blackout in the western United States and over the Pacific Ocean, according to Spaceweather.com .

Such events may become more common in the near future as the solar cycle approaches its maximum.

More sunspots mean more than just that Solar flares But also more Coronal mass ejection And Powerful explosions of charged particles that are formed solar wind . And that could mean bad space weather on Earth. intense Bursts of solar wind can penetrate Earth’s magnetic field and charge particles Earth’s atmosphere that causes magic Twilight picturesbut it also causes serious problems for power grids and satellites in Earth’s orbit.

(Photo: Pixabay)