Solar activity has intensified, but we are facing something more perilous than the solar maximum ahead.

The Sun officially entered the solar maximum phase in November, indicating increased activity of our star. Scientists are now warning that we can expect even higher solar activity, even after the solar maximum concludes in a year. Researchers have termed this phase the "battle zone," which could have extremely negative effects on our planet, reports Live Science.

Solar Maximum

The solar maximum refers to the period that occurs roughly in the middle of the 11-year solar activity cycle, when the number of sunspots on the Sun reaches its peak. During this time, powerful solar flares occur, and streams of plasma are directed toward Earth, provoking severe geomagnetic storms. When the magnetic field alters its polarity during this period, the number of sunspots decreases, solar activity diminishes, and the solar minimum ensues, lasting until the next 11-year solar cycle begins.

In November, scientists declared that the solar maximum of the 25th solar cycle has already begun and will last approximately a year, possibly a bit longer. Researchers from the newly established company Lynker Space, which focuses on forecasting space weather and providing solutions related to its impacts, stated that after the solar maximum ends, a new, less-studied phase of the Sun will emerge, termed the "battle zone."

Scott McIntosh, a physicist who studies the Sun and the vice president of Lynker Space, mentions that geomagnetic activity in the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere could increase by 50% during this phase, which may last until 2028. This implies that very strong and potentially dangerous geomagnetic storms could occur on Earth in the coming years.

Solar Activity Cycles

In addition to the 11-year solar cycle, the Sun also experiences a 22-year "Hale cycle," during which the polarity of the Sun's magnetic field changes and then returns to its original state. During this cycle, large magnetic field lines, known as Hale cycle lines, emerge at the poles of the Sun and slowly move toward the equator of our star, independent of the Sun's global magnetic field. A new line appears in both hemispheres of the Sun during each solar maximum and remains until the end of the next solar cycle, when the lines reach the Sun's equator and disappear. This means that during the first half of the solar cycle, from solar minimum to solar maximum, there is only one Hale cycle line in each hemisphere of the Sun. However, during the second half of the cycle, following the solar maximum, there are two lines in each hemisphere.

According to McIntosh, the overlap of the giant Hale cycle lines governs the solar cycle. When there is only one line in each hemisphere of the Sun, a magnetic imbalance occurs across the Sun, with weaker magnetic fields near the equator, allowing the number of sunspots to increase. When the second line appears, it reduces the imbalance and makes the formation of sunspots more difficult.

The term "battle zone" is a new concept introduced by Lynker Space to describe the period when two Hale cycle lines compete for dominance in each hemisphere of the Sun, says McIntosh. As a result, solar activity intensifies even more after the solar maximum ends.

Significant Threats from the Sun

According to McIntosh, the "battle zone" poses a greater danger to Earth than the solar maximum. Firstly, the number of solar flares and plasma eruptions on the Sun remains very high for several years after the solar maximum concludes. This means that the frequency of geomagnetic storms on Earth does not decrease and may even increase. Secondly, during this period, coronal holes form, which are giant dark spots created by the Sun's magnetic field that penetrate the solar corona, or the outer atmosphere of our star.

Coronal holes are hazardous because they can produce brief and extreme bursts of solar wind, which is a constant flow of charged particles emitted by the Sun.

All additional solar particles expelled by coronal holes are absorbed by the upper atmosphere of Earth during the "battle zone." This leads to stronger geomagnetic storms, according to McIntosh.

This additional geomagnetic activity is particularly perilous for satellites and other spacecraft in low Earth orbit. During this time, satellites may start to malfunction and fall back to Earth.