Briefly describe the phenomena of the sunspot cycle

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

We observe the Sun to exhibit a sunspot cycle over a period of 22 years, tied directly to its magnetic activity. At the beginning of the period, sunspots form at higher latitudes. As magnetic activity increases, the sunspots form lower down and in greater numbers. At solar maximum, the height of magnetic activity, we observe many sunspots and solar flares. The corona is even shaped differently, streaming more from the sides of the Sun instead of forming a more spherical shape around the Sun, as when the magnetic field is weaker. As the formation of sunspots approaches the Sun's equator, the polarity of the Sun flips. Thus, the north magnetic pole becomes the south magnetic pole and vice versa. The polarity of the sunspots also changes at this time. The cycle then repeats for another 11 years with the magnetic poles of the Sun flipped. After 11 years the Sun's magnetic polarity flips again, completing the 22-year period.