A golden age is in store for radio enthusiasts as well, when connections can be made more easily to the ends of the world.
On the night between Thursday and Friday, the northern lights were seen again in southern Finland as well. The colorful spectacle of the night sky has been enjoyed many times this winter.
The fact that we are approaching the peak of the sun’s activity, the so-called sunspot maxima, contributes to the increase in aurora borealis.
The maximum repeats approximately every eleven years. It is estimated that the new peak will be at hand in just over a year, in the winter of 2024–2025.
During maximum, up to twenty large specks can be observed on the sun’s surface, which are strong concentrations of the sun’s own magnetic field. Their lifespan varies from a few days to several months. Spots are often tens of times the size of the Earth in diameter.
During the comma minimum, weeks can go by without a single comma.
In addition to researchers, solar activity is also of interest to radio enthusiasts, as increasing sunspots have a strong effect on radio connections.
Commas also increase magnetic interference states
Although the activity of the sun is studied enthusiastically, much is still shrouded in obscurity.
For example, eleven-year cycles are not a standard, but cycles may be 9–13 years long.
The sun’s activity increases faster and reaches its maximum in 3–5 years and returns more slowly to its minimum again in 6–8 years.
Scientists around the world had already reached a consensus that the next sunspot maximum would be in July 2025, but the observations of the last year suggest that the peak will come six months earlier.
When the sun is more active, the number of magnetic storms also increases, which can be seen in the aurora borealis as well as, for example, disturbances in radio waves.
– Such a magnetic storm temporarily destroys radio coverage on short wavelengths. For example, this morning the shortwave frequencies were practically dead, says Jussila.
*PäijätHami, a major event for radio enthusiasts, will be held in Vierumäki from the 12th to the 16th. July 2023.*