Solar cycle 22

Last updated
Solar cycle 22
Sun920607.jpg
The Sun, with some sunspots visible, during solar cycle 22 (1992).
Sunspot data
Start dateSeptember 1986
End dateAugust 1996
Duration (years)9.9
Max count212.5
Max count monthNovember 1989
Min count13.5
Spotless days309
Cycle chronology
Previous cycle Solar cycle 21 (1976-1986)
Next cycle Solar cycle 23 (1996-2008)

Solar cycle 22 was the 22nd solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. [1] [2] The solar cycle lasted 9.9 years, beginning in September 1986 and ending in August 1996. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 212.5 (November 1989), and the starting minimum was 13.5. [3] During the minimum transit from solar cycle 22 to 23, there were a total of 309 days with no sunspots. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

March 1989 geomagnetic storm

Artist's depiction of solar wind colliding with Earth's magnetosphere. Magnetosphere rendition.jpg
Artist's depiction of solar wind colliding with Earth's magnetosphere.

During March 1989, a severe geomagnetic storm caused the collapse of Hydro-Québec's electricity transmission system. The geomagnetic storm causing this event was itself the result of a Coronal Mass Ejection on March 9, 1989. [7] A few days before, on March 6, 1989, a very large X15 solar flare also occurred. [8] At 2:44 am on March 13, 1989, a severe geomagnetic storm struck Earth. [9] [10] The storm began on Earth with extremely intense auroras at the poles. The aurora could be seen as far south as Texas. [11] As this occurred during the Cold War, many worried that a nuclear first-strike might be in progress. [11] Others considered the intense auroras to be associated with the Space Shuttle mission STS-29, which had been launched on March 13 at 9:57:00 AM. [12] The burst caused short-wave radio interference, including the disruption of radio signals from Radio Free Europe into Russia. It was initially believed that the signals had been jammed by the Soviet government.

As midnight came and went, invisible electromagnetic forces were staging their own pitched battle in a vast arena bounded by the sky above and the rocky subterranean reaches of the Earth. A river of charged particles and electrons in the ionosphere flowed from west to east, inducing powerful electrical currents in the ground that surged into many natural nooks and crannies. [11]

Some satellites in polar orbits lost control for several hours. GOES weather satellite communications were interrupted causing weather images to be lost. NASA's TDRS-1 communication satellite recorded over 250 anomalies caused by the increased particles flowing into its sensitive electronics. [11] The Space Shuttle Discovery was having its own mysterious problems. A sensor on one of the tanks supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell was showing unusually high pressure readings on March 13. The problem went away just as mysteriously after the solar storm subsided.

The variations in the earth's magnetic field also tripped circuit breakers on Hydro-Québec's power grid. The utility's very long transmission lines and the fact that most of Quebec sits on a large rock shield prevented current flowing through the earth, finding a less resistant path along the 735 kV power lines. [13]

The James Bay network went offline in less than 90 seconds, giving Quebec its second massive blackout in 11 months. [14] The power failure lasted 9 hours and forced the company to implement various mitigation strategies, including raising the trip level, installing series compensation on ultra high voltage lines and upgrading various monitoring and operational procedures. Other utilities in North America, the UK, Northern Europe and elsewhere implemented programs to reduce the risks associated with geomagnetically induced currents. [13]

Since 1995, geomagnetic storms and solar flares have been monitored from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) joint-NASA-European Space Agency satellite.

August 1989 geomagnetic storm

In August 1989, another geomagnetic storm affected microchips, leading to a halt of all trading on Toronto's stock market. [15] This geomagnetic storm was caused by a very large X20 solar flare on August 16, 1989, which was even stronger than the X15 flare from March 6, 1989, referred above. [8]

Sunquakes discovered

"Sunquakes" caused by solar flares were first observed during this cycle. These are running acoustic waves, as opposed to the standing waves that constitute the material of helioseismology. The flare impulse launches these waves from the photosphere, and they arc deeply into the interior of the Sun before refracting back to the surface to appear as faint ripples, expanding radially away from the flare some tens of minutes later. The flare in which these waves were first observed, SOL1996-07-09, occurred more than three years after the last previous major event. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar flare</span> Eruption of electromagnetic radiation

A solar flare is an intense localized eruption of electromagnetic radiation in the Sun's atmosphere. Flares occur in active regions and are often, but not always, accompanied by coronal mass ejections, solar particle events, and other solar phenomena. The occurrence of solar flares varies with the 11-year solar cycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space weather</span> Branch of space physics and aeronomy

Space weather is a branch of space physics and aeronomy, or heliophysics, concerned with the time varying conditions within the Solar System, including the solar wind, emphasizing the space surrounding the Earth, including conditions in the magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Space weather is distinct from, but conceptually related to, the terrestrial weather of the atmosphere of Earth. The term "space weather" was first used in the 1950s and came into common usage in the 1990s. Later, it was generalized to a "space climate" research discipline, which focuses on general behaviors of longer and larger-scale variabilities and effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geomagnetic storm</span> Disturbance of the Earths magnetosphere

A geomagnetic storm, also known as a magnetic storm, is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave and/or cloud of magnetic field that interacts with the Earth's magnetic field.

A solar storm is a disturbance on the Sun, which can emanate outward across the heliosphere, affecting the entire Solar System, including Earth and its magnetosphere, and is the cause of space weather in the short-term with long-term patterns comprising space climate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 24</span> Solar activity from December 2008 to December 2019

Solar cycle 24 is the most recently completed solar cycle, the 24th since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. It began in December 2008 with a minimum smoothed sunspot number of 2.2, and ended in December 2019. Activity was minimal until early 2010. It reached its maximum in April 2014 with a 23 months smoothed sunspot number of 81.8. This maximum value was substantially lower than other recent solar cycles, down to a level which had not been seen since cycles 12 to 15 (1878-1923).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March 1989 geomagnetic storm</span> An exceptionally powerful geomagnetic storm that struck the Earth on March 13, 1989

The March 1989 geomagnetic storm occurred as part of severe to extreme solar storms during early to mid March 1989, the most notable being a geomagnetic storm that struck Earth on March 13. This geomagnetic storm caused a nine-hour outage of Hydro-Québec's electricity transmission system. The onset time was exceptionally rapid. Other historically significant solar storms occurred later in 1989, during a very active period of solar cycle 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 9</span> Solar activity from July 1843 to December 1855

Solar cycle 9 was the ninth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 12.4 years, beginning in July 1843 and ending in December 1855. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 219.9, and the starting minimum was 17.6. During the solar cycle minimum transit from solar cycle 9 to solar cycle 10, there were a total of 655 days with no sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 10</span> Solar activity from December 1855 to March 1867

Solar cycle 10 was the tenth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 11.3 years, beginning in December 1855 and ending in March 1867. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 186.2, and the starting minimum was 6.0. During the transit from solar cycle 10 to 11, there were a total of 406 days with no sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 12</span> Solar activity from December 1878 to March 1890

Solar cycle 12 was the twelfth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 11.3 years, beginning in December 1878 and ending in March 1890. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 124.4, and the starting minimum was 3.7. During the minimum transit from solar cycle 12 to 13, there were a total of 736 days with no sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 15</span> Solar activity from July 1913 to August 1923

Solar cycle 15 was the fifteenth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 10.1 years, beginning in July 1913 and ending in August 1923. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 175.7, and the starting minimum was 2.5. During the minimum transit from solar cycle 15 to 16, there were a total of 534 days with no sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 19</span> Solar activity from April 1954 to October 1964

Solar cycle 19 was the nineteenth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 10.5 years, beginning in April 1954 and ending in October 1964. The International Geophysical Year occurred at the peak of this solar cycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 20</span> Solar activity from October 1964 to March 1976

Solar cycle 20 was the twentieth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 11.4 years, beginning in October 1964 and ending in March 1976. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 156.6, and the starting minimum was 14.3. During the minimum transit from solar cycle 20 to 21, there were a total of 272 days with no sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 21</span> Solar activity from March 1976 to September 1986

Solar cycle 21 was the 21st solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 10.5 years, beginning in March 1976 and ending in September 1986. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 232.9, in December 1979, and the starting minimum was 17.8. During the minimum transit from solar cycle 21 to 22, there were a total of 273 days with no sunspots. The largest solar flare of this cycle (X15) occurred on July 11, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 23</span> Solar activity from August 1996 to December 2008

Solar cycle 23 was the 23rd solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 12.3 years, beginning in August 1996 and ending in December 2008. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 180.3, and the starting minimum was 11.2. During the minimum transit from solar cycle 23 to 24, there were a total of 817 days with no sunspots. Compared to the last several solar cycles, it was fairly average in terms of activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bastille Day solar storm</span> Solar storm on 14-16 July 2000

The Bastille Day solar storm was a powerful solar storm on 14-16 July 2000 during the solar maximum of solar cycle 23. The storm began on the national day of France, Bastille Day. It involved a solar flare, a solar particle event, and a coronal mass ejection which caused a severe geomagnetic storm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 25</span> Predicted Sun activity 2019 to about 2030

Solar cycle 25 is the current solar cycle, the 25th since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. It began in December 2019 with a minimum smoothed sunspot number of 1.8. It is expected to continue until about 2030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar phenomena</span> Natural phenomena within the Suns atmosphere

Solar phenomena are natural phenomena which occur within the atmosphere of the Sun. These phenomena take many forms, including solar wind, radio wave flux, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, coronal heating and sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August 1972 solar storms</span> Solar storms during solar cycle 20

The solar storms of August 1972 were a historically powerful series of solar storms with intense to extreme solar flare, solar particle event, and geomagnetic storm components in early August 1972, during solar cycle 20. The storm caused widespread electric‐ and communication‐grid disturbances through large portions of North America as well as satellite disruptions. On 4 August 1972 the storm caused the accidental detonation of numerous U.S. naval mines near Haiphong, North Vietnam. The coronal mass ejection (CME)'s transit time from the Sun to the Earth is the fastest ever recorded.

References

  1. ↑ Kane, R.P. (2002). "Some Implications Using the Group Sunspot Number Reconstruction". Solar Physics. 205 (2): 383–401. doi:10.1023/A:1014296529097. S2CID   118144552.
  2. ↑ "The Sun: Did You Say the Sun Has Spots?". Space Today Online. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  3. ↑ SIDC Monthly Smoothed Sunspot Number. ""
  4. ↑ Spotless Days. ""
  5. ↑ What's Wrong with the Sun? (Nothing) more information: Spotless Days. " "NASA - What's Wrong with the Sun?". Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2015-08-15."
  6. ↑ Solaemon's Spotless Days Page. ""
  7. ↑ . Geomagnetic Storms Can Threaten Electric Power Grid Archived 2008-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Earth in Space, Vol. 9, No. 7, March 1997, pp.9-11 (American Geophysical Union)
  8. 1 2 "SOHO Hotshots".
  9. ↑ Lerner, Eric J. (August 1995). "Space weather: Page 1". Discover . Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  10. ↑ "Scientists probe northern lights from all angles". CBC News. 2005-10-22. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "A Conflagration of Storms" . Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  12. ↑ "STS-29". Science.ksc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  13. 1 2 Hydro-Québec. "Electricity in nature - March 1989". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  14. ↑ Morin, Michel; Sirois, Gilles; Derome, Bernard (13 March 1989). "Le Québec dans le noir" (in French). Radio-Canada. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  15. ↑ Solar storms halt stock market as computers crash, New Scientist, 9 September 1989.
  16. ↑ Kosovichev, A. G.; Zharkova, V. V. (1998). "X-ray flare sparks quake inside Sun". Nature. 393 (6683): 317–318. doi:10.1038/30629. S2CID   4300831.
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