Not all the details of solar activity are known yet. The full solar cycle is really a 22-year cycle, since every 11 years (on average), the magnetic field flips; therefore the full cycle is 22 years (again, on average), since that's the time it takes to get back to its previous position.
Wikipedia says: "The basic causes of the solar variability and solar cycles are still under debate, ..." For more details, read the Wikipedia article on "Solar cycle".
Solar flares and prominences occur in 11-year cycles because of the Sun's magnetic field. This is known as the solar cycle, which is caused by the changing magnetic properties of the Sun. The cycle is driven by the Sun's internal dynamo mechanism, with peaks and valleys in solar activity occurring roughly every 11 years.
Oversimplified analogy: the solar wind is a near continuous fairly gentle outflow of gas from the sun in all directions, a solar flare is a giant hurricane force gust blown suddenly away from the sun in one single direction.
Although the cause of flares is not completely understood, they are known to be associated with the magnetic field of the Sun. One favored explanation is that they occur when magnetic fields in the Sun pointing in opposite directions interact strongly with each other. Such a situation can be brought about by the churning motion of solar material near the surface, and is more likely during periods of the active sun. Thus, there typically is a correlation between the frequency of flares and the number of sunspots.
Prominences are large, bright features extending outward from the Sun's surface, while solar flares are sudden, intense bursts of energy. The corona is the Sun's outer atmosphere, solar wind is a stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun, chromospheres are the middle layer of the Sun's atmosphere, and photospheres are the Sun's visible surface. Collectively, these components make up the dynamic system of the Sun's structure and activity.
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.
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and solar prominences are some of the most explosive events to occur on the sun. Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation, while CMEs release colossal amounts of solar material into space. Solar prominences are large loops of plasma extending from the sun's surface.
The layer of the sun's atmosphere responsible for flares, spicules, and prominences is the chromosphere. This layer lies above the photosphere and below the corona. It is where these solar phenomena occur due to the intense magnetic activity in the region.
Solar flares and prominences occur in 11-year cycles because of the Sun's magnetic field. This is known as the solar cycle, which is caused by the changing magnetic properties of the Sun. The cycle is driven by the Sun's internal dynamo mechanism, with peaks and valleys in solar activity occurring roughly every 11 years.
Both solar flares and solar prominences are magnetic disturbances that occur on the Sun's surface. They both involve the release of a large amount of energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Solar flares and prominences are often associated with sunspots and can have significant impacts on space weather.
The solar surface is known as the photosphere, where the temperature is around 5,500 degrees Celsius. It emits visible light and is the layer from which sunlight is emitted. Sunspots, solar flares, and prominences are all phenomena that occur on the solar surface.
Sun spots and prominences.
Oversimplified analogy: the solar wind is a near continuous fairly gentle outflow of gas from the sun in all directions, a solar flare is a giant hurricane force gust blown suddenly away from the sun in one single direction.
The colored layer of the sun is known as the chromosphere. It is located above the sun's visible surface (photosphere) and is characterized by its reddish coloration. The chromosphere is also where solar prominences and solar flares occur.
The sun spins faster at the equator then at the poles, this causes a difference in magnetic fields. Once one is looped, the temperature of the area will decrease, causing a sun spotSunspots are caused by the intense magnetic field of the sun, they usually occur the most during the high peak of the solar cycle.
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Although the cause of flares is not completely understood, they are known to be associated with the magnetic field of the Sun. One favored explanation is that they occur when magnetic fields in the Sun pointing in opposite directions interact strongly with each other. Such a situation can be brought about by the churning motion of solar material near the surface, and is more likely during periods of the active sun. Thus, there typically is a correlation between the frequency of flares and the number of sunspots.
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