Sun’s Magnetic Levels Ebb as Scientists Note Missing Action

Solar activity appears on the decline as events that typically presage bursts of energy in the sun’s 11-year cycle have decreased or stopped, scientists say.

Tracking the sun’s cycle, which occurs as its magnetic poles reverse, helps predict solar storms that interfere with satellite orbits, communications and power systems, according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. Data reported yesterday at the American Astronomical Society meeting suggest the sun is nearing a quiet period, said Frank Hill, associate director of the National Solar Observatory.