Scientists Meet to Understand Solar Cycle Better

  • Research Stash
  • News
  • 2.5K

Influence of the Sun on the Earth is modulated by solar activity cycle. The 11-year cycle is one of the most striking phenomena in solar physics and has fascinated both specialists and laymen for centuries.

International Astronomical Union Symposium 340

The cycle is thought to be the product of a dynamo located deep inside the Sun. Although great advances have been made in understanding the physics of the `dynamo’, the world is still far from having a consistent and generally accepted picture of it.  Even more enigmatically, no two cycles are alike and there are great differences from one cycle to the next. This phenomenon remains a big challenge.

Understanding of the origin and physics of the solar cycle requires data spanning not just one cycle. Rather, many solar cycles must be observed with equal reliability.

The global effort has got a new impetus with scientists and other stakeholders from different parts of the world coming together to take stock of the current state of research and the level of datasets that are available for different aspects of the solar cycle.

The six-day symposium organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which concluded here today, saw presentations and discussions among researchers from different fields of study.

The meeting assumes importance as it was the first such gathering that focused specifically to look at long-term data on solar cycles in their totality. Over the years there had been workshops and symposia focused on the different aspects of various datasets. But, this is the first time where an integrated approach was taken.

It is also significant as the scientific world would soon have high-quality datasets spanning about 40 years or about 4 cycle’s datasets at its disposal of important aspects such as the polar field data and the synoptic magnetograms. Also, the weakest solar cycle over the past century would come to an end soon.

The co-Chair of the symposium titled IAUS340, Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, noted, “during the last few years, renewed interest on the digitization of many long-term data sources and more systematic and automated methods of analysis have given us invaluable statistics about the sunspot, faculae, and prominences from the beginning of the 20th century.  With the current cycle now reaching its end, how strong the next cycle will be? Can we predict the next cycle physically with the available datasets? It will be the right point in time to discuss”.  (India Science Wire)

By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

Image International Astronomical Union Symposium 340

For the latest Science, Tech news and conversations, follow Research Stash on TwitterFacebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Rate

Understanding of the origin and physics of the solar cycle requires data spanning not just one cycle. Rather, many solar cycles must be observed with equal reliability.

The global effort has got a new impetus with scientists and other stakeholders from different parts of the world coming together to take stock of the current state of research and the level of datasets that are available for different aspects of the solar cycle.

The six-day symposium organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which concluded here today, saw presentations and discussions among researchers from different fields of study.

The meeting assumes importance as it was the first such gathering that focused specifically to look at long-term data on solar cycles in their totality. Over the years there had been workshops and symposia focused on the different aspects of various datasets. But, this is the first time where an integrated approach was taken.

It is also significant as the scientific world would soon have high-quality datasets spanning about 40 years or about 4 cycle’s datasets at its disposal of important aspects such as the polar field data and the synoptic magnetograms. Also, the weakest solar cycle over the past century would come to an end soon.

The co-Chair of the symposium titled IAUS340, Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, noted, “during the last few years, renewed interest on the digitization of many long-term data sources and more systematic and automated methods of analysis have given us invaluable statistics about the sunspot, faculae, and prominences from the beginning of the 20th century.  With the current cycle now reaching its end, how strong the next cycle will be? Can we predict the next cycle physically with the available datasets? It will be the right point in time to discuss”.  (India Science Wire)

By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

Image International Astronomical Union Symposium 340

For the latest Science, Tech news and conversations, follow Research Stash on TwitterFacebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel 

" }
Scientists Figure Out How Plants Make Use of Good Microbes for Their Growth

Scientists Figure Out How Plants Make Use of Good Microbes for Their Growth

The group led by Dr. Jyothi Lakshmi Vadassery has found that an ion channel called CNGC19 in the plants could be playing a decisive role in helping the plants to benefit from the good microbes

  • News
  • 1.5K
Read more
Bibha Chowdhuri – Celebrating A Forgotten Life in Physics

Bibha Chowdhuri – Celebrating A Forgotten Life in Physics

Only few would know about the work and contribution of Bibha Chowdhuri (1913- 1991) who not only worked with Bhabha and Sarabhai at TIFR and PRL respectively but in the laboratory of Nobel-winning physicist P M S Blackett, who was also an advisor of Prime Minister Nehru on matters relating to organizing scientific research in newly independent India.

  • News
  • 3.7K
Read more
Diagnostics for Asymptomatic Malaria

Diagnostics for Asymptomatic Malaria

A team of researchers led by Dr. V. Arun Nagaraj of Institute of Life Sciences and Mr. Srinivasa Raju of Jigsaw Bio Solutions Pvt. Ltd used a new concept of genome mining that identifies identical multi-repeat sequences distributed throughout the malaria parasite genome and successfully targeted them to develop what is called an “ultra-sensitive” qPCR assay for malaria diagnosis.

  • News
  • 1.3K
Read more

Internet is huge! Help us find great content

Newsletter

Never miss a thing! Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.

About

Research Stash is a curated collection of tools and News for S.T.E.M researchers

Have any questions or want to partner with us? Reach us at hello@researchstash.com

Navigation

Submit