Solar Maximum: What is it and What to Expect?

During the next solar maximum – expected to begin in 2025 – a increased solar activity, more solar flares and coronal mass ejection. This can cause extreme space weather events and disruptions to radio communications and the power grid, as well as potential health risks to astronauts.

What is a solar maximum and what can be expected?

A solar maximum is a peak in solar activity that occurs approximately in the middle of every 11-year solar cycle. This is when the sun’s magnetic field is strongest..

Experts expect this solar maximum to be stronger than the previous one, which occurred between 2012 and 2014 but was the weakest in a 100-year period.

With more power in the event, we can expect greater effects on space weather and possible related consequences such as solar flare events and coronal mass ejections.

Besides, Interruptions and interference in radio communication can also occur.Because solar flares consist of high-energy photons that increase ionization in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Another consequence of the solar maximum could be: CMEs, They are the materials that fuel the explosions of the solar magnetic field and geomagnetic storms.. If they hit the earth’s magnetic field, they can damage the power distribution network.

We will also have more bursts of high-energy particles moving towards Earth, posing great risk to the health of astronauts, passengers and aircrew at higher latitudes and altitudes.

It is possible that more bursts of high-energy particles will travel towards Earth. These eruptions are about four times more likely to occur during a solar maximum than during a solar minimum.

While many of these effects are short-lived, it’s important to recognize that our increased reliance on technology increases risks. People around the world will hardly be able to see or feel the consequences of the solar maximum.

We’re likely to see brighter auroras at different latitudes, and scientists have also found signs of the solar cycle in Earth’s stratosphere, but these effects are not as significant or severe as factors such as volcanoes, carbon dioxide emissions, and other human activity.

In general, a stronger solar cycle means a higher probability of extreme space weather events. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for potential large-scale infrastructure disruptions.