How do high sunspot activities affect the magnetic storms on Earth?

Answer 1

Spots on the face of the Sun come and go in an 11-year cycle. They rise quickly to a peak during the first four to five years of the cycle and then descend more slowly to minimum over six to seven years.

Just before, during, and just after the peak of a Sunspot Cycle, the increased number of sunspots sends more ultraviolet radiation to impact Earth's ionosphere. This results in much greater ionization of the F region of Earth's atmosphere. That allows the ionosphere to refract higher radio frequencies back to Earth.

On the other hand, around the minimum time of a Sunspot Cycle, the number of sunspots is so low that higher frequencies generated on the surface of Earth travelk up and pass right on through Earth's ionosphere into outer space. That is, there is less absorption and a more stable ionosphere, resulting in the best propagation on lower frequencies.

One of the significant effects of sunspots and associated solar flares is the impact on the Earth's magnetic field. The rapid field changes caused by sunspots affect satellite communications such as GPS and telephones as well as powerlines and long pipelines. Geophysicists who monitor the magnetic field liaise closely with GA geodesists who manage GPS base stations so advice can be provided on whether the accuracy of GPS positioning has been affected by any activity.

The last "sunspot maximum" occurred in 2000 and was followed by a period of decreasing sunspot numbers, but scientists are now seeing evidence suggesting the number may be starting to rise again. If the normal pattern continues they should peak around 2011.

Answer 2

In general, higher sunspot activities are connected with an increase number of solar flares. When the flares collide with the earth's magnetic fields, we get the storms.