According to scientists who closely observe our sun and have a historical record dating back more than 250 years, to 1755, the level of solar activity since April 2023 has reached an intensity unprecedented in recent decades. These specialized experts meticulously document the intricate movements that occur on the sun's surface. The phenomenon of sunspot formation is known as the terminator effect. However, many people do not know what is the terminator effect.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you what the terminator phenomenon is, its characteristics and repercussions.
Sun cycles and spots
In recent months, there has been a notable increase in solar activity, suggesting that the peak of the Sun's life cycle, originally expected in mid-2025, is approaching sooner than expected. An interesting phenomenon observed in April was the appearance of auroras at lower latitudes than usual, which indicates the intensity of recent geomagnetic storms. This has led scientists to suspect that the "solar peak maximum" phase may have arrived a year earlier than expected.
Although the Sun appears as an unchanging sphere when viewed from Earth, it actually undergoes fluctuations in its activity and has intricate dynamics. Inside our star, hot gases such as hydrogen and helium carry electrical charges, leading to the formation of magnetic fields with significant strength. As these gases move, the magnetic field lines stretch, intertwine, twist and rearrange themselves, giving rise to what we call solar activity on the surface of the Sun.
The length of a solar cycle is approximately 11 years and is determined by analyzing the fluctuation in the number of sunspots that are detected and recorded. The level of solar activity is not consistent and fluctuates between periods of high activity (known as maxima) and periods of relative calm (known as minima). These fluctuations follow a pattern known as the solar cycle, which typically lasts about 11 years, although the length and energy levels of each cycle can vary. During each cycle, the Sun's magnetic field undergoes changes that result in the reversal of its north and south poles.
Regions of the Sun that exhibit strong magnetic activity are known as sunspots. These sunspots provide scientists with valuable information about the amount of light, energy and material the Sun emits, while allowing them to track and quantify the solar cycle.
Solar cycle 25
At the beginning of a solar cycle, there is a period of minimal solar activity, characterized by the fewest number of sunspots. As time passes, both the level of activity and the number of places gradually increase. Around the midpoint of the cycle, the solar maximum is reached, marked by the greatest number of spots. After this peak, the number of spots begins to decrease until the cycle concludes with a return to a solar minimum, signaling the beginning of a new cycle.
The most recent solar minimum took place in December 2019, which marked the beginning of the current cycle, known as number 25. Initially, experts predicted that solar maximum would occur in 2025 based on estimates made in 2020. However, recent observations indicate that the cycle is showing a higher level of activity than expected at this stage, suggesting the possibility of that the forecasts projected for 2025 are met sooner.
According to Scott W. McIntosh, director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the United States, the solar peak of cycle 25 entered its maximum phase a year earlier than expected. As a result, our sun is producing more powerful geomagnetic storms. Experts predict that solar activity will increase towards the end of this year and the beginning of 2024, coinciding with the appearance of the "terminator effect."
What is the terminator effect
In the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, a study details the presence of two concurrent and intertwined solar cycles within the Sun. These cycles change seamlessly, one fading as the other emerges. This transition culminates in an increase in solar activity and the formation of sunspots, a phenomenon that researchers call the "Terminator effect." The concept of overlapping solar cycles was initially proposed by scientist William Lockyer in 1903. who coined the term "terminator" to describe these events.
Fortunately, our planet was spared the impact of the most recent powerful solar ejecta, also known as a terminator, which was documented in 2012. Beginning with a solar flare or explosion within the magnetic envelope of a sunspot. Consequently, Earth is rapidly bombarded with intense X-rays and ultraviolet radiation, causing ionization of the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Consequences of the terminator effect
In the midst of these events, the Sun releases collisions of magnetic fields that have the potential to generate what are known as "plasma tsunamis." If all of these plasma waves were directed at Earth directly, the consequences could be immensely disruptive and wreak havoc. The repercussions would be particularly serious disruptions to global communications and technology, causing significant disruption and impairment.
Earth's magnetosphere, which acts as our planet's safeguard, is disrupted when energetic coronal mass ejections from unstable areas of the Sun pass through the solar system and come into contact with the atmosphere, resulting in geomagnetic storms.
The impact of solar storms goes far beyond mere interference with radio signals, satellites and space missions. These powerful phenomena also disrupt communication systems on Earth, jeopardize the functionality of GPS systems, impede power plant operations, and compromise aviation safety. However, if a solar storm had a Terminator effect, The consequences would be even more serious and would cause devastating financial losses.
Such an event has the potential to trigger global electrical blackouts, causing extensive damage to power transformers and severely affecting the electrical infrastructure that supports our daily lives. While the probability of a Terminator event affecting Earth is relatively low, its potential impact cannot be underestimated.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the terminator effect and its characteristics.