The sun’s magnetic field flips its polarity approximately every 11 years as part of the solar cycle. The last flip happened in late 2013.
This upcoming flip will switch the magnetic field from northern to southern polarity in the Northern Hemisphere, and vice versa in the Southern Hemisphere.
The reversal is driven by sunspots emerging at different latitudes that have magnetic orientations aligned with either the old or new field. Over time the new orientation dominates.
The flip is a gradual process over the course of the 11-year solar cycle, not an instantaneous change. It typically takes 1-2 years but can vary.
During the transition the sun’s magnetic field becomes more complex without a clear dipole structure.
The reversal indicates the halfway point of solar maximum activity and the beginning of the decline to solar minimum.
Increased solar activity and geomagnetic storms on Earth tend to coincide with the period of magnetic complexity around solar maximum.
The changing field provides slightly better protection from galactic cosmic rays during the reversal.
Scientists will monitor the upcoming flip to help predict the strength of the following 11-year solar cycle.
Source: Space
