Solar maximum in 2024: Sun activity rising faster than expected

Solar activity is becoming increasingly volatile as the sun approaches its solar maximum earlier than expected.

The sun is in a constant cycle of activity, each solar cycle lasts for around 11 years, with the most volatile stage known as the solar maximum.

Previously, this was expected to arrive in mid-2025. A rise in activity in recent weeks has seen astronomers bring this forecast forward to mid- to late-2024.

When the solar maximum occurs the sun’s magnetic field flips, there is an increase in the number of sunspots, areas where the sun’s magnetic field is much stronger, and solar flares.

If these flares are fired in the direction of Earth, they interact with the atmosphere on arrival and create vibrant auroras.

Earlier this week, two coronal mass ejections (CME) were observed to be ejected by sunspots in our planet’s direction.

The first was launched July 14 and was followed a day later by a larger, faster travelling ejection. This resulted in a rare cannibal CME where the first was consumed by the second.

Larger solar storms also see auroras spread to more southern latitudes. The cannibal CME this week means that auroras were visible over Scotland and areas of northern England.

Events such as these can interrupt radio signals on Earth, and satellites are also at risk. In February 2022, a solar storm destroyed 40 Starlink satellites launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.