In recent decades, solar activity has been declining: the number of sunspots, flares, and coronal mass ejections has been decreasing. This trend has led some scientists to speculate that our star may be approaching a new "grand minimum," similar to the one that occurred in the 1830s.
But now the picture is different. In the past 17 years, solar activity has been increasing again: a strengthening of the magnetic field, more frequent storms, and a more powerful solar wind. The Sun's past reminds us that such fluctuations are nothing new. From 1645 to 1715, for almost 70 years, the Sun was virtually free of sunspots; this period is known as the Maunder Minimum. In an interesting coincidence, at the same time, frigid winters were recorded in Europe. The Thames River in London even froze completely several times.
However, scientists say that such dips in solar activity have a minimal impact on the global climate. The primary cause of climate change on Earth today is primarily due to human-made greenhouse gases. Scientists well understand the Sun's 11-year cycles, but the long-term variations remain unexplained. Why the Sun has changed its course, and how long this active phase will last, are unclear.
