Sun is set to flip upside down within weeks as its magnetic field reverses polarity in an event that will send ripple effects throughout the solar system. Although it may sound like a catastrophic occurrence, theres no need to run for cover. The sun switches its polarity, flipping its magnetic north and south, once every eleven years through an internal mechanism about which little is understood. Swap could however cause intergalactic weather fronts such as geomagnetic storms, which can interfere with satellites and cause radio blackouts. Nasa said in August that the change would happen in three to four months time, but it is impossible to give a more specific date. Scientist wont know for around another three weeks whether the flip is complete. Impact of the transfer will be widespread as the suns magnetic field exerts influence well beyond Pluto, past Nasas Voyager probes positioned near the edge of interstellar space. The event will be watched closely by researchers at Stanford Universitys Wilcox Solar Observatory, which monitors the suns magnetic field on a daily basis. Todd Hoeksema, director of the Wilcox Solar Observatory, said the polarity change is built up throughout the eleven year cycle through areas of intense magnetic activity known as sunspots which gradually move towards the poles, eroding the existing opposite polarity. Eventually, the magnetic field reduces to zero, before rebounding with the opposite polarity. Its kind of like a tide coming in or going out, Hoeksema said. Each little wave brings a little more water in, and eventually you get to the full reversal. One of the most noticeable effect on Earth will be a boost in the occurrence, range and visibility of auroras - the Northern Lights. Its not a catastrophic event, its a large scale event that has some real implications, but its not something we need to worry about,
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:44:26 +0000
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