New solar storm cycle starting

Solar Cycle 24 began last week, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A violent sunspot started the new 11-year long solar season, creating a ‘space climate’ of magnetic storms and strong solar winds that will probably disrupt power grids, satellite communications, global positioning systems, mobile phones and even automated teller machines.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center is predicting the space climate for the new solar season by issuing warnings and alerts, updated every three hours, on its website. The new sunspot – number 10,981 since NOAA began numbering them in January 1972 – is the harbinger of a new solar season because it is located in the Sun's northern hemisphere, which is historically where new sunspots appear at the beginning a new cycle. The new season will build intensity over the next five years, likely peaking around 2012, forecasters said.

The latest solar flare appeared at 27 degrees North and had negative polarity, which is indicative of new solar cycles according to the NOAA. Despite its appearance in the northern hemisphere, NOAA expects the Sun to continue exhibiting equatorial sunspots for at least for a few months until the new cycle prevails. The appearance of polar magnetic fields in the next few months could downgrade NOAA's prediction to a weak Solar Cycle 24. However, the violent start portends an active solar season.

The high energy levels emitted by the Sun during a storm season can disrupt radio transmissions, damage communications satellites and even knock out land-based electrical transmission lines.