2006-11-27 04:23:38 · 6 answers · asked by achelie o 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Purely in terms of numbers, sunspots vary with a cycle that is about 11yrs on average, known as the Schwabe cycle. One can't be any more precise than "about 11yrs" as the cycle varies somewhat, primarily due to fluctuations in the magnetic field of the sun. A more "geeky" answer is 22yrs, however (the Hale cycle), as the magnetic field of the sun reverses polarity each Schwabe cycle and so it takes 22yrs to "get back to where we started". This makes no difference to mere humans, as sunspots look the same to us in each phase, but if you were Superman with super-vision perhaps it would!
2006-11-27 05:22:18 · answer #1 · answered by Steve H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an 11 year cycle.
We hit the low point of the current cycle in the summer of this year.
So we have about 5 years to wait.
As we get more sunspots, so shoetwave radio conditions will improve and the number of visual aurora will increase.
2006-11-27 11:00:20 · answer #2 · answered by fletch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cycle varies but on the average it's around 11 years.
2006-11-27 04:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun spot cycle is eleven years.
2006-11-27 05:02:14 · answer #4 · answered by bldudas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either 11 or 22 yrs..
Depending on where you start & stop ..
2006-11-27 05:24:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
11 year sun-spot cycles.
2006-11-27 04:24:42 · answer #6 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋