Over 60% Surge in Solar Flux Marks Centennial Gleissberg Cycle Awakening

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The Centennial Gleissberg Cycle has reached its minimum around 2024 and is now ramping up, potentially bringing decades of stronger solar storms.

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Scientists used proton flux data from the Van Allen radiation belts to detect this crucial solar cycle shift that occurs only once per century.

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Solar Cycle 25 forecasts are now being rewritten as the CGC influence could extend and intensify upcoming solar maxima through mid-century.

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Your favorite northern lights photos might soon look amateur as more frequent and vibrant auroras are expected with intensifying solar activity.

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Low-Earth orbit satellites face increased drag and potential failure risks as the atmosphere expands from heightened solar heating.

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The next CGC maximum won't arrive until around 2070, meaning we're entering decades of potentially stronger solar cycles and their effects.

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How does the sun affect our climate? The CGC modulates cosmic rays reaching Earth, potentially influencing cloud formation and regional weather patterns.

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Machine learning algorithms are now racing to improve solar forecasting, with some already predicting Solar Cycles 24-26 as marking the CGC minimum period.

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SpaceX's Starlink satellites already experienced significant orbital drag during Solar Cycle 24's peak, foreshadowing challenges for the growing megaconstellation era.

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NOAA's original forecast predicted Solar Cycle 25 would peak at sunspot number 115 in July 2025, but revised predictions now suggest a stronger, earlier peak

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[{"selector":"#anim-0d0456ec-a376-437e-842f-cf4759169cdf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-193dd316-effc-4126-ae27-ee4780a5ae00","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -156.00563%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Parker Solar Probe's December 2024 approach brought it within 3.8 million miles of the Sun at 430,000 mph, collecting crucial data about our star's behavior. Representative Image. Photo Source: NASA HQ PHOTO

[{"selector":"#anim-acae297a-dc82-41c2-9db0-c9b8d1a30299","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2fdf71a-b177-452b-8734-d613b006b288","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Maunder Minimum (1645-1715) represents an extreme solar quiet period within the CGC framework, when sunspots virtually disappeared and Europe experienced a "Little Ice Age." Representative Image. Photo Source: MichaelLockwood (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-5aac4937-95df-4ac8-92c6-a14c5b1fc197","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09c4cef3-9744-41cd-ae58-bdd8d99a4d74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -155.24613%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Space weather experts rank solar storms on scales from G1-G5 and S1-S5, with the highest levels capable of widespread blackouts and satellite failures. Representative Image. Photo Credits: Michael Pointner (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-be0ac734-02bf-4c5b-bc9c-403d6983d408","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fd9869f-de79-4558-a13f-87d22d1029ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Scientists remain cautiously skeptical about the CGC turnover, with some suggesting we need two more years of data to confirm this solar cycle shift is truly underway. Representative Image. Photo Source: Czech Wikipedia user (CC BY-SA 2.5)

[{"selector":"#anim-c8591106-0e6f-421c-a6f5-88db7250a8d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b01a4fe-b1b8-43ab-8700-3b0e562b1c1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc932580-eee3-41ed-bb96-aff8f1fc78c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0987081-2ce4-4681-8f8e-8bf16c4a4115","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-890bd2a0-6802-49c8-9aa8-288407985af5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] China Beats 2030 Wind Solar Goal Early Learn more