ESA Shares Stunning Photos of Intense Solar Flares as Solar Maximum Nears: What’s Happening?

In the past year, the scientific world made an announcement about the Sun’s expected peak activity in January 2024, highlighting an increasing trend in solar flares observed in recent months.

The European Space Agency (ESA) shared a visualization on Friday (Feb 23), depicting the Sun’s activity from February 2021 to October 2023. This visualization illustrates the dynamic changes in the Sun, including the escalation of solar flares, the appearance of dark spots, and the movement of plasma loops and superheated gases. ESA explained that these phenomena are indicative of the Sun nearing the apex of its magnetic activity cycle, leading to more pronounced solar events.

But what exactly is going on? This phase of heightened solar activity is known scientifically and geographically as the solar maximum.

The solar maximum is a phase of intensified solar phenomena, marking the peak of the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle. We are currently in the 25th cycle of this process, which is anticipated to climax in mid to late 2024, sooner than previously predicted.

This peak period is characterized by an increase in sunspots and a slight rise in the Sun’s irradiance, by about 0.07%. It’s also a time when the Earth experiences significant geomagnetic effects, including powerful solar storms.

For instance, a historic geomagnetic storm occurred a few months before the peak of the 10th solar cycle, dating back to September 1859, which remains the most intense on record.

The cycle begins with a solar minimum and progresses to a maximum. According to the ESA, the latest cycle started its minimum phase in February 2021.

The current cycle, number 25, has witnessed considerable activity, such as intense solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These events can disrupt Earth’s electric power grids, GPS, satellites, and even cause radio blackouts.

Following the peak of the solar cycle, the Sun undergoes a magnetic pole reversal, leading to a period of tranquility.