A Video of NASA of what it might look like if magnetic
forces draw out loops and strands of hot plasma from the sun's surface. - Image
courtesy NASA
The sun's magnetic field, which extends beyond Pluto and the
solar system, is just months away from flipping, Stanford’s Wilcox Solar observatory
measurements show. The sun's magnetic field changes polarity approximately
every 11 years during the peak of each solar cycle as the sun's inner dynamo
reorganizes itself.
"This change will have ripple effects throughout the
solar system," solar physicist Todd Hoeksema of Stanford University said
in a statement.
Scientists are already seeing signs of the reversal
happening, and this time there's a twist: the sun's two hemispheres are oddly
out of sync, with the North Pole already beginning to change and the South Pole
racing to catch up. That means that for now, at least, the sun effectively has
two South Poles.
What Does a Reversal Mean?
A reversal of the sun's magnetic field will have
consequences throughout the solar system. As the Earth orbits the sun the outer
space will become stormy. There is a risk of exposure to cosmic rays. Cosmic
rays pose a threat to astronauts and space probes, and some researchers say
they might also affect the cloudiness and climate of Earth.
News from National Geographic - Ker Than
Published August 7, 2013
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