Modern Grand Solar Minimum

Modern Grand Solar Minimum

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Space

In news

• The magnitude of the Sun’s solar activity is decreasing. 
• This period of decreased solar activity is known as the Modern Grand Solar Minimum that will last from 2020 to 2053.

Key takeaways

• This is done by observing the number of Sunspots at any given time. 
• The number of sunspots is directly proportional to solar activity. 
• More Sunspots mean more solar activity.
• The last time such an event occurred was during the Maunder Minimum, from 1645 CE to 1710 CE.

Impact

• The surface temperatures on Earth may go down during the Modern Grand Solar Minimum due to a 70% reduction in solar magnetic activity.
• Variations in solar irradiance will lead to heating of the upper layer of the Earth’s atmosphere and influences the transport of solar energy towards the planet’s surface.
• Decreased solar activity has complex impacts on the abundance of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere
• It also affects the climatic cycles of Earth such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).