(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Top Comments: The Solar Cycle [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-09-17 Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find! The first observations of dark spots on the face of the Sun (i. e. sunspots) were recorded in ancient times, first in China. In 1612, Galileo Galilei started recording their presence more systematically. They are temporary regions of magnetic flux that resist heat convection, which makes them cooler, and thus darker, than the rest of the Sun’s surface. When a large number of sunspots are observed on the Sun, it is a signal that the Sun is “active.” Such periods of activity are marked by higher light intensity, as well as flares and magnetic storms that can damage electronics. Knowing how powerful a solar cycle is going to be would be useful to enable the protection of sensitive electronics before the next strong magnetic storm. Over centuries of observation, solar activity displays repetition over a period of approximately 11 years. Cyclic solar behavior is not limited to the observation of sunspots. Record of sunspot observations. Scientists who study the Sun now have centuries-worth of data on the observation of sunspots as well as a clear theoretical description of the processes that drive the Sun’s dynamics, but they are not much closer to understanding what causes the cycle as they were when the cycle was first discovered. The reason is that solar processes such as this cycle are governed by complex plasma hydrodynamics, and it’s difficult to model such a large system with assurance that all important aspects are adequately included. Recognition of patterns in natural phenomena is the beginning of science. Once a pattern is found, there is a desire to try to figure out the cause behind the pattern. Since 1989, groups of astrophysicists who study the Sun have tried their hands at predicting how active the next solar cycle would be, and generally, they have failed miserably. Some pay attention to what a re called precursors, particular measurable phenomena which, over many cycles, may show patterns of behavior that may offer the power of prediction. Such precursors include magnetic field strength at the Sun’s poles, and the variation in the length of the cycle. Others prefer to try brute-force computation. The panel in charge of considering the combined data predicted a less active current cycle. However, the cycle is turning out to be a bit more active than the prediction. More data, and more precursors are going to be needed before such predictions can be made reliable. Comments are below the fold. Top Comments (September 17, 2023): From inkstainedwretch: G2geek reply to Tevye on xaxnar diary Armed man arrested attempting to approach Robert Kennedy Jr. We want Ignomy and Irrelevance for Trump, to finish the alliteration with Donnie's already YUUGE! Irrationality. Top Mojo (September 16, 2023): [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/17/2192541/-Top-Comments-The-Solar-Cycle Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/