Across
- 6. refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
- 7. a 70 year period with very little solar activity from 1645 to 1715
- 8. temporary spots on the Sun's surface that are darker than the surrounding area.
Down
- 1. Active regions are areas on the Sun where strong magnetic field lines extend into the solar atmosphere. Because of this, scientists often find sunspots in the same area as active regions.
- 2. The beginning of a solar cycle is a solar minimum, or when the Sun has the least sunspots. Over time, solar activity—and the number of sunspots—increases.
- 3. The solar cycle is the natural cycle of the Sun as it transitions between low and high activity. During the most active part of the cycle, known as solar maximum, the Sun can unleash immense explosions of light, energy, and solar radiation — all of which create conditions known as space weather. Space weather can affect satellites and astronauts in space, as well as communications systems — such as radio and GPS — and power grids on Earth.
- 4. the first person to observe sunspots in the 1600s
- 5. a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water (sunspots may cause these)
- 8. This cycle is roughly 11 years.