March 02, 2011

Trent J Perrotto Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321 trent j perrotto@nasa gov

RELEASE: 11-059

NASA-SPONSORED RESEARCH EXPLAINS MISSING SUNSPOTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA-sponsored research has resulted in the first computer model that explains the recent period of decreased solar activity during the sun's 11-year cycle

This recent solar minimum, a period characterized by a lower frequency of sunspots and solar storms, was the deepest observed in almost 100 years The solar minimum has repercussions on the safety of space travel and the amount of orbital debris our planet accumulates

Solar scientists around the world were puzzled by the extended disappearance of sunspots in 2008-2009 Results published in Thursday's edition of Nature indicate the mystery may be solved

"Plasma currents deep inside the sun interfered with the formation of sunspots and prolonged the solar minimum," says lead author Dibyendu Nandi of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Kolkata

During this deep solar minimum, the sun's magnetic field weakened, allowing cosmic rays to penetrate the solar system in record numbers, making space a more dangerous place to travel At the same time, the decrease in ultraviolet radiation caused Earth's upper atmosphere to cool and collapse

As a consequence space debris stopped decaying and started accumulating in Earth orbit due to increased atmospheric drag These effects demonstrate the importance of understanding the entire solar cycle, during both minimum and maximum

Observations from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) will eventually provide measurements that could validate the current model and provide the basis for future solar cycle prediction

"This research demonstrates how observations from Heliophysics System Observatory missions stimulate new theories and advance modeling techniques," said Richard Fisher, director of the Heliophysics Division in NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington

This research was funded by NASA's Living With a Star Program and the Department of Science and Technology of the government of India

For more information about the research, visit:

http://www nasa gov/sunearth

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