Ever since the cycle began, the sun has become more active, unleashing solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and geomagnetic storms, with at least one scientist warning solar maximum could arrive ahead of schedule, and that's not great news for the digital economy here on Earth.
The current solar cycle has a forecasted peak sometime in 2025.
In December 2022, the total number of sunspots was at its highest in eight years, indicating solar activity was ramping up.
Another indication of increased solar activity is the number and intensity of solar flares: In 2022, there were fivefold more C-class and M-class solar flares than there were in 2021, and year on year, the number of the most powerful, X-class solar flares is also increasing, according to SpaceWeatherLive.com.
Live Science Over the years, we've explained solar flares can spark geomagnetic storms and cause disruptions to satellites and even power grids.
The Next Big Geomagnetic Storm Poses An Astronomical Risk To Modern Man Digital Economy Disruption Possible As "Terminator Event" Suggests Strongest Sunspot Cycle On Record Imminent Risks Solar Storms Pose On Modern Economy What's concerning is a solar physicist at the University of College London, Alex James, told Live Science that the sun's increase in solar activity is a warning sign the solar maximum could arrive by the end of this year.
They warned: "We are poorly prepared." The federal government became increasingly serious about potential grid-down events produced by solar storms with a 2016 executive order signed by the Obama Administration titled "Coordinating Efforts to Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events."
https://www.zerohedge.com/weather/solar-cycle-25s-maximum-might-arrive-earlier-and-hit-harder
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