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An international team of researchers has dedicated itself to solving a puzzle about the sun that already occupied Galileo Galilei. The background is the formation of our star’s magnetic field. Astronomers have always had difficulties locating it.
New calculations by a NASA supercomputer now show that the magnetic field is probably generated around 32,000 kilometers below the surface. This is significantly less deep than originally assumed. Previously, there were indications that the origin was around 210,000 kilometers below the surface.
The new results were published on Wednesday in the scientific journal Nature. Northwestern University in the US, also involved in the study, reports on EurekAlert.
Better understanding of processes in the sun
The discovery should not only lead to a better understanding of our sun’s dynamic processes. It could also help scientists predict solar storms more accurately.
These not only cause spectacular northern lights but even in Austria. They can also disrupt sensitive electronics. They potentially affect GPS, power grids, spaceships, satellite navigation, and other technologies.
‘This work offers a new hypothesis about how the Sun’s magnetic field is generated that is more consistent with observations and could hopefully be used for better predictions of solar activity,’ the study’s co-author Daniel Lecoanet is quoted as saying.
11-year cycle
The sun’s magnetic field and the associated solar activity go through an 11-year cycle. At the peak of activity, the sun’s magnetic poles turn, ushering in the next period of initially lower activity.
We are currently in an increasing activity cycle and heading towards the solar maximum. It is not yet known exactly when this will occur. Current predictions place the event between January 2024 and June 2025.
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