We can be in for a huge firework put on show in 2012. The Sun will be approaching the climax of its 11-year cycle, called "so we could be in for a huge firework display in 2012.
The Sun will probably be approaching the climax of its 11-year cycle, called "solar maximum", so we can expect a lot of solar activity.
Some predictions put the solar maximum of Solar Cycle 24 even more energetic than the last solar maximum in 2002-2003 remember all those record breaking X-class flares.
Solar physicists are by now getting excited about this next cycle and new prediction methods are being put to good use. But should we be worried?
According to one of the many Doomsday scenarios we have been presented with in the run-up to the Mayan Prophecy-fuelled "end of the world" in the year 2012, this scenario is actually based on some science.
What's more, there may be approximately correlation between the 11-year solar cycle and the time cycles seen in the Mayan calendar, perhaps this ancient civilization understood how the Sun's magnetism undergoes polarity changes every decade or so? Plus, religious texts (such as the Bible) say that we are due for a day of judgment, involving a lot of fire and brimstone.
So it looks like we are going to get roasted alive by our closest star on December 21st, 2012!
Even before we go jumping to conclusions, take a step back and think this through. Like most of the various ways the world is going to end in 2012, the possibility of the Sun blasting out a huge, Earth-damaging solar flare is very attractive to the doomsayers out there.
But let's have a look at what really takes place during an Earth-directed solar flare event, the Earth is actually very well protected.
The Earth has evolved in a highly radioactive environment. The Sun constantly fires high-energy particles from its magnetically dominated surface as the solar wind.
During solar maximum (when the Sun is at its most active), the Earth may be unlucky enough to be staring down the barrel of an explosion with the energy of 100 billion Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs.
This explosion is known as a solar flare and the effects of which can cause problems here on Earth.
Even before we look at the Earth-Sudden Ionosphere Disturbances effects, let's have a look at the Sun and briefly understand why it gets so angry every 11 years or so.
First and foremost, the Sun has a natural cycle through a period of approximately 11 years. During the lifetime of each cycle, the magnetic field lines of the Sun are dragged around the solar body by differential rotation at the solar equator.
This means that the equator is spinning faster than the magnetic poles.
As this continues, solar plasma drags the magnetic field lines around the Sun, causing stress and a build up of energy.
As magnetic energy increases, kinks in the magnetic flux form, forcing them to the surface.
These kinks are known as coronal loops which become more numerous during periods of high solar activity.
Reconnection is the trigger for solar flares of various sizes.
As previously reported, solar flares from "nanoflares" to "X-class flares" are very energetic events. Granted, the largest flares my generate enough energy for 100 billion atomic explosions, but don't let this huge figure concern you.
For a start, this flare occurs in the low corona, right near the solar surface. That's nearly 100 million miles away (1AU). The Earth is nowhere close to the blast.
The biggest problem with an X-ray flare is that we get little warning when it is going to happen as X-rays travel at the speed of light (one of the record breaking 2003 solar flares is pictured left). X-rays from an X-class flare will probably reach the Earth in around eight minutes.
As X-rays hit our atmosphere, they are absorbed in the outermost layer called the ionosphere. As you can guess from the name, this is a highly charged, reactive environment, full of ions (atomic nuclei, and free electrons).
During powerful solar events such as flares, rates of ionization between X-rays and atmospheric gases increase in the D and E region layers of the ionosphere.
There is a sudden surge in electron production in these layers. These electrons can cause interference to the passage of radio waves through the atmosphere, absorbing short wave radio signals in the high frequency range, possibly blocking global communications.
These events are known as "Sudden Ionosphere Disturbances and they become commonplace during periods of high solar activity.
Interestingly, the increase in electron density during a SUDDEN IONOSPHERE DISTURBANCES boosts the propagation of Very Low Frequency radio, a phenomenon scientists use to measure the intensity of X-rays coming from the Sun.
X-ray solar flare emissions are only part of the story. If the conditions are right, a coronal mass ejection (CME) might be produced at the site of the flare (although either phenomenon can occur independently).
CMEs are slower than the propagation of X-rays, but their global effects here on Earth can be more problematic.
They may not travel at the speed of light, but they still travel fast; they can travel at a rate of 2 million miles per hour (3.2 million km/hr), meaning they may reach us in a matter of hours.
Author Resource:
Osvaldo Salamanca is interested in the Emergency Disaster Preparedness. So come and visit the latest website at http://www.is2012theend.info which helps people to finding out more about How To Do The Preparation For The Prediction or Phenomenon of 2012 information will help you to Get Ready.
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