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The Sun's activity varies, sometimes being hotter, sometimes being colder. The amount of activity on the sun has been measured for over 2000 years by observing spots on the Sun's surface. The more active the Sun is, the more of these spots appear on the surface. During these periods of heavy solar activity, the sun is a little bit hotter and the sun ejects more material off its surface. This has a minor effect on temperature of the Earth and the other planets.
It will be a mistake to believe that the number of sunspots on any particular day determines that day's temperature. Solar activity may increase the heating of the Earth, but the Earth's temperature does not respond instantly. There are also other important factors that effect the Earth's temperature, including the changes in the tilt of the Earth (called precession, over tens of thousands of years) and the accumulation of dust in the atmosphere from volcanoes or meteor impact (which only last for a couple years).
In the last several years, sunspots have been at an unprecedented minimum, and yet the Earth's temperature is near its highest in recorded history. Clearly global warming cannot simply be attributed to an 11 year sun cycle.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe question of how - and IF - sunspots affect the climate here on Earth is still a matter of some dispute. Some scientists believe that the effect of sunspots on the Earth must be minuscule. Other scientists observe that when the Sun has few or no sunspots for long periods of time, the Earth experiences markedly cooler weather.
While it is true that the "Maunder Minimum" (a 70-year period of VERY low sunspot activity) happened just prior to the "Little Ice Age" in Europe, there is not yet a widely accepted mechanism proposed that would explain the connection between sunspots and warmer temperatures. Until some mechanism to explain this is proposed, the issue of sunspots and climate must remain open.
For myself, I believe that the statistical correlation between sunspots and temperature is very suggestive; but it is not proof.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWe're not sure why, but when there are very few sunspots during the 11-year "sunspot cycle", or when that cycle slows down, we experience colder than usual weather here on Earth.
We've only been tracking sunspots for about 400 years; before then, nobody knew to look for them, or were able to. The sunspot cycle which began last year is Cycle 24. There have been two extended periods of few or no sunspots; one was the Maunder Minimum, from 1645 to 1715, and the Dalton Minimum, from 1790 to 1830. The Maunder Minimum coincides with a period known as the "Little Ice Age", and during the Dalton Minimum the recorded temperatures were perhaps 2-3 degrees below normal.
Periods of increased sunspot activities appear to be associated with slightly higher than normal temperatures.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe primary affect on the Earth is on our ionosphere
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIt interferes with radio transmissions and reception. It is possible for them to cause havoc.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThey create the Aurora borealis by reacting with the magnetic poles.
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What might happen if the number of sunspots go much larger?
they can summon huge solar flares and maybe weaken the earth's magnetosphere.
How do sun spots and solar flares show evidence for climate change?
They don't. Climate change occurs on the Earth. Sun spots and solar flares occur on the Sun. The Sun heating up could cause a climate change on the Earth, but sunspots and solar flares don't really have much to do with that.
Solar flares may be seen in the sun's what?
Solar flares, sunspots and prominences are features of the sun that have some effects on Earth: 1. Sunspots- Dark areas around the surface of the sun that are cooler than surrounding areas. They appear and disappear over a period of time. The period from minimum to maximum number of appearances of sunspots is the sunspot cycle, which occurs every 11 years. Sunspots are believed to have effects on Earth's weather and climate. Low temperatures in some countries and drought in other countries were observed during a period when very few sunspots appeared on the sun's surface. 2. Prominences- Arches of gas that rise from the sun's surface and flow back to it caused by magnetic fields of sunspots. Some prominences are in the forms of loops, curtains, or funnels. Solar prominences may last for many hours and can extend millions of kilometers above the surface of the sun. 3. Solar flares- Violent eruptions that are suddenly released and are caused by magnetic energy stored in the corona. Ultraviolet light and X rays from solar flares cause disruption of radio signals, making communication by radio and telephone difficult. Magnetic storms occur on Earth when electrically charged particles from the corona and solar flares ae added to the solar wind produced by the corona. When this happens, Earth's atmosphere radites beautiful lights called aurora borealis or northern lights. This same light is called the aurora australis in the southern hemisphere.
The intense magnetic fields of sunspots cause arch-like eruptions is called a solar eclipse?
No. The large arch-like eruptions your thinking of are called solar flares. Eclipses are alignments of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Sunspots are also different. Sunspots are areas on the Sun that are of a different colors that do cause magnetic interruptions of cell phone use, Internet, etc... Solar flares (Arch-like eruptions) cause changes in temperature and usually bring extreme heats.
What effects can solar flares have on Earth directly?
Solar flares can cause interference with electronic equipment (like cell phones) and because we have magnetic poles, the radiative particles that do make it to the atmoshpere become the northern lights.
Why are cell phone companies concerned about sunspots?
the cause sun spots create prominences the solar flares that interferes with earth's satellites
What might happen if the number of sunspots go much larger?
they can summon huge solar flares and maybe weaken the earth's magnetosphere.
what happens when the sun emit more energy that normal?
What happens when the Sun emits more energy than normal?O Solar flares and sunspots occur, increasing Earth's temperature.O Sunspots and volcanic eruptions occur, increasing Earth's temperature.O Volcanic eruptions and movement of continents occur, decreasing Earth's temperature.O Movement of continents and solar flares occurs, decreasing Earth's temperature.?
How do sun spots and solar flares show evidence for climate change?
They don't. Climate change occurs on the Earth. Sun spots and solar flares occur on the Sun. The Sun heating up could cause a climate change on the Earth, but sunspots and solar flares don't really have much to do with that.
Solar flares may be seen in the sun's what?
Solar flares, sunspots and prominences are features of the sun that have some effects on Earth: 1. Sunspots- Dark areas around the surface of the sun that are cooler than surrounding areas. They appear and disappear over a period of time. The period from minimum to maximum number of appearances of sunspots is the sunspot cycle, which occurs every 11 years. Sunspots are believed to have effects on Earth's weather and climate. Low temperatures in some countries and drought in other countries were observed during a period when very few sunspots appeared on the sun's surface. 2. Prominences- Arches of gas that rise from the sun's surface and flow back to it caused by magnetic fields of sunspots. Some prominences are in the forms of loops, curtains, or funnels. Solar prominences may last for many hours and can extend millions of kilometers above the surface of the sun. 3. Solar flares- Violent eruptions that are suddenly released and are caused by magnetic energy stored in the corona. Ultraviolet light and X rays from solar flares cause disruption of radio signals, making communication by radio and telephone difficult. Magnetic storms occur on Earth when electrically charged particles from the corona and solar flares ae added to the solar wind produced by the corona. When this happens, Earth's atmosphere radites beautiful lights called aurora borealis or northern lights. This same light is called the aurora australis in the southern hemisphere.
What are small bursts of fire near sunspots called?
Small bursts of fire near sunspots are called solar flares. Solar flares eject clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona of the sun into space. These ejections reach the earth a day or two later.
Prominences and flares on the sun are related to sunspots because they all are caused by eartlths orbit around the sun?
No. Sunspots are related to prominences and flares because they are all caused by imperfections in the Sun's magnetic field. A sun spot is the base of a prominence (they are the same phenomenon) and Solar flares are just enormous prominances. The Earth has no effect whatsoever on the Sun. (Apart from a few very minor technicalities.)
Where are sunspots on the earth?
There are no sunspots on the Earth; SUNspots are spots ON THE SUN. They are "dark" (well, SLIGHTLY less bright) spots on the Sun that happen to be correlated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The number of spots on the Sun varies up and down on a cycle that is approximately 11 years long. We're not sure why. You can see today's Sunspot Number online at spaceweather.com.
Are the Aurora Borealis on Earth caused by sunspots?
Yes, the auroras begin as sunspots, or solar flares. Charged particles stream out from the sun and collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in the earth's ionosphere. The oxygen and nitrogen give out green, blue and red light, the same way a neon tube works.
The intense magnetic fields of sunspots cause arch-like eruptions is called a solar eclipse?
No. The large arch-like eruptions your thinking of are called solar flares. Eclipses are alignments of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Sunspots are also different. Sunspots are areas on the Sun that are of a different colors that do cause magnetic interruptions of cell phone use, Internet, etc... Solar flares (Arch-like eruptions) cause changes in temperature and usually bring extreme heats.
Is it possible for Earth to lose its gravitational pull?
Yes because as more solur flares hitting the easrths magnetic feild sheild, it weakings and this effects the earth gravitationfeild, it the amount of solar flares keeps happing the earth would loose it gravity in 1,000,000 years
How do sunspots are formed?
in the earth
