#solar activity

[quiltofstars]

The Sun on March 20, 2026 // Jean-David Gadina

[thefirststarr]

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare, seen as the bright flash toward the upper middle on Feb. 4, 2026. The image shows extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in blue and red.

Image Credit & Copyright: NASA/SDO

[gemini-enthusiast]

Sunspot 1302, Solar Dynamics Observatory

[bolaneno]

Sun Releases Strong Flare - NASA Science

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 7:13 a.m. ET on Feb. 4. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly

[wayti-blog]

Solar Storm Unexpectedly Reduces Cosmic-Ray Flux

A solar storm hitting Earth appears to have reduced the amount of incoming high-energy cosmic rays, suggesting a new way of measuring solar

"Solar activity has a well-known impact on the flux of low-energy cosmic rays that strike Earth. Now researchers have detected a solar-storm-induced change in the flux of higher-energy cosmic rays [1]. Using data from a large detector array in China, the team measured a decrease—over several hours—in cosmic-ray showers coming from a particular direction in the sky. The timing of this anisotropy suggests that cosmic rays heading into the outward-moving storm were preferentially scattered by the storm’s magnetic fields. The results could lead to a new way to study the magnetic structures in solar storms.

("X. Ye/Purple Mountain Observatory; W. Mitthumsiri/Mahidol University - Cosmic shield. A bubble of plasma erupts from the Sun’s surface during a coronal mass ejection. Magnetic fields associated with this plasma can alter the paths of cosmic rays. For TeV cosmic rays, the deflection appears to be strongest for those moving toward the Sun (light and dark blue trajectories). This directional dependence can explain an anisotropy observed by the LHAASO team.")

The solar wind—the spray of charged particles continually emitted by the Sun—partially shields Earth and other planets from cosmic rays that stream into the Solar System from all directions. The wind contains magnetic fields that help deflect the high-energy protons and other particles that make up the cosmic rays. In 2024, when the wind was at the peak in its 11-year cycle, the flux of cosmic rays was down by about 0.5% compared to the average.

Such variation can also occur over daylong timescales when a solar storm passes over Earth. This spike in solar activity is often associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME)—a large bubble of plasma exploding from the Sun’s surface. In this plasma, magnetic field lines braided like the threads of a rope can trap cosmic rays, reducing the flux that reaches Earth by roughly 1%. This so-called Forbush decrease has been documented for relatively low-energy cosmic rays in the 100 MeV to 100 GeV range. At higher energies, cosmic rays should fly through the magnetic ropes, so their flux at Earth is expected to remain unaffected, says David Ruffolo of Mahidol University in Thailand."

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[adastra-sf]

Sun Reaches Solar Maximum

watch the full NASA YouTube video: X

The Sun is stirring from its latest slumber.

As sunspots and flares bubble from the Sun’s surface, representatives from NASA, NOAA, and the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period.

The solar cycle is a natural cycle the Sun goes through as it transitions between low and high magnetic activity and back again. Roughly every 11 years, at the height of the solar cycle, the Sun’s magnetic poles flip (on Earth, that’d be like the North and South poles swapping places every decade), and the Sun goes from calm to an active and stormy state.

During this most active part of the cycle (solar maximum), the Sun shows many more sunspots and often unleashes immense explosions of light, energy, and solar radiation, creating "space weather" which affects satellites and astronauts in space, as well as communications systems and power grids down here on Earth.

NASA and NOAA track sunspots to determine and predict the progress of the solar cycle - and ultimately solar activity. Sunspots are cooler regions on the Sun caused by a concentration of magnetic field lines. They're the visible component of active regions, areas of intense and complex magnetic fields on the Sun and the source of solar eruptions.

“During solar maximum, the number of sunspots, and therefore the amount of solar activity, increases,” says Jamie Favors of the NASA Space Weather Program. “This increase in activity provides an exciting opportunity to learn about our closest star, but also causes real effects at Earth and throughout our solar system.”

Solar activity has led to increased auroral activity and impacts on satellites and electronic infrastructure this year. During 2024, barrages of huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections launched clouds of charged particles toward Earth, creating the strongest geomagnetic storms we've experienced in decades, and possibly the strongest auroras visible in the past 500 years.

This is a great time to watch the Sun (via the internet or a properly filtered telescope only - never view the Sun without certified safe solar filters made for your instrument) and catch some auroras. Even here at Ad Astra headquarters in Kansas (which almost never sees an aurora), we've been able to enjoy a few nighttime light shows this year!

This solar maximum could last for many more months, so stay tuned!

[greenpostua]

⚠️ Магнітна буря накриє Україну вже завтра!

За даними Meteoagent, 27 липня очікується магнітна буря рівня G1 (K-індекс 5). Це перший рівень геомагнітних збурень, який може вплинути на самопочуття чутливих людей.

🧠 У зоні ризику:

• метеозалежні

• літні люди

• ті, хто має серцево-судинні або хронічні захворювання

📌 Рекомендації лікарів:

• пийте більше води

• уникайте стресів і перенавантаження

• за можливості, більше відпочивайте

Бережіть себе 💙

[httpsoftbunni]

Introduction to the Schumann Resonance

The Schumann Resonance is often described as the heartbeat of the Earth. It is named after physicist Winfried Otto Schumann, who predicted its existence in 1952. The Schumann Resonance is basically a set of electromagnetic waves that circle around the Earth outside the atmosphere, between the Earth's surface, and through the ionosphere. *the ionosphere is an atmospheric layer that contains charged particles* These waves resonate at specific frequencies, the main one being 7.83 Hz.

So why does this happen? Think of the space between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere as a drum. Lightning strikes, of which there are thousands happening all over the world at any moment, act like drumsticks, hitting the drum and creating sound. But instead of sound, these strikes create electromagnetic waves that bounce between the Earth and the ionosphere, creating the Schumann Resonance.

The Earth’s surface and the ionosphere form what’s called a resonant cavity. A resonant cavity is essentially a space where waves can bounce back and forth, reinforcing each other under the right conditions. In this case, the electromagnetic waves generated by lightning strikes travel through the cavity formed by the Earth's conductive surface and the ionosphere, reflecting off of each boundary.

This space between the surface of the Earth and the ionosphere is about 34 miles (or roughly 55 kilometers) thick, acting like the drumhead in the analogy. Because this cavity is relatively constant in size, it supports specific frequencies of electromagnetic waves, with 7.83 Hz being the dominant one due to the size and shape of the cavity. It’s similar to how a guitar string resonates at a certain pitch depending on its length and tension.

The fundamental frequency of 7.83 Hz is just one of several resonant frequencies. These frequencies, known as harmonics, occur because the cavity can support different "modes" of wave vibration. Beyond the fundamental mode, there are higher frequencies that resonate within this cavity as well, typically around 14.3 Hz, 20.8 Hz, 27.3 Hz, and 33.8 Hz. These harmonics exist because the electromagnetic waves can reflect and reinforce each other at multiples of the fundamental frequency.

The Role Of Lightning

Lightning is a crucial part of this entire process. With an estimated 2,000 thunderstorms occurring across the globe at any given moment, and around 50 lightning strikes happening each second, the atmosphere is constantly being charged with electromagnetic energy. Each lightning strike releases energy that generates these low-frequency electromagnetic waves, which propagate through the resonant cavity formed by the Earth and ionosphere.

This is why the Schumann Resonance is considered a global phenomenon—it depends on continuous electrical activity occurring all over the world. The energy from thunderstorms and lightning strikes drives the resonance, maintaining the standing waves that vibrate in this cavity. It is this constant electrical activity that sustains the resonance and gives rise to the steady, predictable frequencies we can measure.

The Ionosphere

The ionosphere, which forms the upper boundary of the resonant cavity, is a highly dynamic part of the Earth’s atmosphere. It’s composed of charged particles, or ions, that are created by the interaction of solar radiation (primarily ultraviolet and X-rays from the Sun) with the Earth’s atmosphere. The ionosphere plays a crucial role in reflecting the electromagnetic waves generated by lightning back toward the Earth's surface, allowing the Schumann Resonance to occur.

However, the ionosphere isn't static—it fluctuates with solar activity, time of day, and atmospheric conditions. During periods of high solar activity, such as solar flares or geomagnetic storms, the ionosphere can become more ionized, which alters its properties and can affect the Schumann Resonance frequencies. Changes in solar radiation or geomagnetic conditions can temporarily increase or decrease the frequencies at which the Schumann waves resonate, creating small variations in the resonance.

Measuring Schumann Resonance

Schumann Resonance is often measured using ground-based electromagnetic detectors that can pick up these low-frequency signals. Scientists use these measurements to study not only the global electrical activity but also the state of the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere. The resonance can act as a natural indicator of atmospheric conditions and is sometimes referred to as an atmospheric barometer. For example, changes in the resonance can signal shifts in global lightning activity or disturbances in the ionosphere caused by solar events.

Through careful monitoring of Schumann Resonance, scientists can gain insights into global weather patterns, thunderstorms, and even how space weather—such as solar winds and geomagnetic storms—affects the Earth's atmosphere.

Global Relevance

Although the Schumann Resonance is a natural electromagnetic phenomenon, it has broader implications for how we understand the Earth’s electromagnetic environment. It is a reflection of the interaction between the planet's atmospheric system and external forces like solar radiation and cosmic influences. Because of this, studying the Schumann Resonance offers insights into not just weather and atmospheric science, but also how Earth’s environment reacts to changes in space weather.

Moreover, the study of Schumann Resonance helps scientists better understand how electromagnetic waves travel around the Earth, providing valuable data for radio communication systems and atmospheric research. This understanding is essential for improving communication systems that rely on bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere, such as long-distance communication systems.