For broader coverage of this topic, see Solar cycle.
Solar maximum is the regular period of greatest solar activity during the Sun's 11-year solar cycle. During solar maximum, large numbers of sunspots appear, and the solar irradiance output grows by about 0.07%.[2] On average, the solar cycle takes about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to the next, with duration observed varying from 9 to 14 years.
A prediction for Sunspot Cycle 24 (2008-2020) gives a smoothed sunspot number maximum of about 66 in the Summer of 2013. Current observations make this the smallest sunspot cycle since records began in the 1750s.[1]
Predictions of a future maximum's timing and strength are very difficult; predictions vary widely. There was a solar maximum in 2000. In 2006, NASA initially expected a solar maximum in 2010 or 2011, and thought that it could be the strongest since 1958.[4] However, the solar maximum was not declared to have occurred until 2014, and even then was ranked among the weakest on record.[5]
In addition to the ~11 year solar cycle, the intensity of the solar maxima can vary from cycle to cycle. When several solar cycles exhibit greater than average activity for decades or centuries, this period is labelled "Grand solar maximum". Solar cycles still occur during these grand solar maximum periods, but the intensity of those cycles is greater. Likewise, extended periods in which the solar maximum is lower than average are labeled "grand solar minima". Some researchers suggest that grand solar maxima have shown some correlation with global and regional climate changes, although others dispute this hypothesis (e.g., see Medieval Warm Period).
Following the advent of telescopic solar observation with Galileo's 1611 observations, the intensity of solar maxima is typically measured by counting numbers and size of sunspots; for periods previous to this, isotope ratios in ice cores can be used to estimate solar activity. The table below shows the approximate dates of some of the proposed solar minima in historical times.
The idea of a Modern Maximum has now been thrown into question with the release of a paper at the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in August 2015.[7]
A proposed list of historical Grand minima of solar activity[8] includes also Grand minima ca. 690 AD, 360 BC, 770 BC, 1390 BC, 2860 BC, 3340 BC, 3500 BC, 3630 BC, 3940 BC, 4230 BC, 4330 BC, 5260 BC, 5460 BC, 5620 BC, 5710 BC, 5990 BC, 6220 BC, 6400 BC, 7040 BC, 7310 BC, 7520 BC, 8220 BC, 9170 BC.
^C. D. Camp & K. K. Tung (2007). "Surface warming by the solar cycle as revealed by the composite mean difference projection" (PDF). Geophysical Research Letters. 34 (14): L14703. Bibcode:2007GeoRL..3414703C. doi:10.1029/2007GL030207. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
^"Monster radiation burst from Sun". BBC News. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 2015-01-06.
^, Science@NASA, 10 March 2006, Accessed 26 Mar. 2010
^Celia Martin-Puertas; Katja Matthes; Achim Brauer; Raimund Muscheler; et al. (April 2, 2012). "Regional atmospheric circulation shifts induced by a grand solar minimum". Nature Geoscience. 5 (6): 397–401. Bibcode:2012NatGe...5..397M. doi:10.1038/ngeo1460.
^"Corrected Sunspot History Suggests Climate Change since the Industrial Revolution not due to Natural Solar Trends". Press release. IAU. 7 Aug 2015. 1508.
^Usoskin, Ilya G.; Solanki, Sami K.; Kovaltsov, Gennady A. (2007). "Grand minima and maxima of solar activity: new observational constraints" (PDF). Astron. Astrophys. 471 (1): 301–9. arXiv:0706.0385. Bibcode:2007A&A...471..301U. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20077704.
January 09, 2023
solar, maximum, spacecraft, solar, maximum, mission, broader, coverage, this, topic, solar, cycle, regular, period, greatest, solar, activity, during, year, solar, cycle, during, solar, maximum, large, numbers, sunspots, appear, solar, irradiance, output, grow. For the spacecraft see Solar Maximum Mission For broader coverage of this topic see Solar cycle Solar maximum is the regular period of greatest solar activity during the Sun s 11 year solar cycle During solar maximum large numbers of sunspots appear and the solar irradiance output grows by about 0 07 2 On average the solar cycle takes about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to the next with duration observed varying from 9 to 14 years A prediction for Sunspot Cycle 24 2008 2020 gives a smoothed sunspot number maximum of about 66 in the Summer of 2013 Current observations make this the smallest sunspot cycle since records began in the 1750s 1 Three recent solar cycles Large solar storms often occur during solar maximum For example the Carrington Event which took place a few months before the solar maximum of solar cycle 10 was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history and widely considered to have been caused by an equally large solar storm 3 Contents 1 Predictions 2 Grand solar minima and maxima 3 See also 4 ReferencesPredictions EditPredictions of a future maximum s timing and strength are very difficult predictions vary widely There was a solar maximum in 2000 In 2006 NASA initially expected a solar maximum in 2010 or 2011 and thought that it could be the strongest since 1958 4 However the solar maximum was not declared to have occurred until 2014 and even then was ranked among the weakest on record 5 Grand solar minima and maxima EditMain article Solar cycle In addition to the 11 year solar cycle the intensity of the solar maxima can vary from cycle to cycle When several solar cycles exhibit greater than average activity for decades or centuries this period is labelled Grand solar maximum Solar cycles still occur during these grand solar maximum periods but the intensity of those cycles is greater Likewise extended periods in which the solar maximum is lower than average are labeled grand solar minima Some researchers suggest that grand solar maxima have shown some correlation with global and regional climate changes although others dispute this hypothesis e g see Medieval Warm Period Following the advent of telescopic solar observation with Galileo s 1611 observations the intensity of solar maxima is typically measured by counting numbers and size of sunspots for periods previous to this isotope ratios in ice cores can be used to estimate solar activity The table below shows the approximate dates of some of the proposed solar minima in historical times 400 year history of sunspot numbers Solar minimum events and approximate dates Event Start EndHomeric minimum 6 950BC 800BCOort minimum 1040 1080Medieval maximum 1100 1250Wolf minimum 1280 1350Sporer Minimum 1450 1550Maunder Minimum 1645 1715Dalton Minimum 1790 1820Modern Maximum 1914 2008Unspecified 2009 presentThe idea of a Modern Maximum has now been thrown into question with the release of a paper at the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in August 2015 7 A proposed list of historical Grand minima of solar activity 8 includes also Grand minima ca 690 AD 360 BC 770 BC 1390 BC 2860 BC 3340 BC 3500 BC 3630 BC 3940 BC 4230 BC 4330 BC 5260 BC 5460 BC 5620 BC 5710 BC 5990 BC 6220 BC 6400 BC 7040 BC 7310 BC 7520 BC 8220 BC 9170 BC See also EditSolar wind Solar variation Solar minimum List of solar cycles table of solar cyclesReferences Edit NASA C D Camp amp K K Tung 2007 Surface warming by the solar cycle as revealed by the composite mean difference projection PDF Geophysical Research Letters 34 14 L14703 Bibcode 2007GeoRL 3414703C doi 10 1029 2007GL030207 Retrieved 20 January 2012 Monster radiation burst from Sun BBC News 14 May 2013 Retrieved 2015 01 06 Solar Storm Warning Science NASA 10 March 2006 Accessed 26 Mar 2010 Solar Mini Max NASA Retrieved 2014 12 24 Celia Martin Puertas Katja Matthes Achim Brauer Raimund Muscheler et al April 2 2012 Regional atmospheric circulation shifts induced by a grand solar minimum Nature Geoscience 5 6 397 401 Bibcode 2012NatGe 5 397M doi 10 1038 ngeo1460 Corrected Sunspot History Suggests Climate Change since the Industrial Revolution not due to Natural Solar Trends Press release IAU 7 Aug 2015 1508 Usoskin Ilya G Solanki Sami K Kovaltsov Gennady A 2007 Grand minima and maxima of solar activity new observational constraints PDF Astron Astrophys 471 1 301 9 arXiv 0706 0385 Bibcode 2007A amp A 471 301U doi 10 1051 0004 6361 20077704 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Solar maximum amp oldid 1080701897, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
