I had the opportunity to listen to a leading Space Weather Expert the other day, a chat with Professor Gordon P Turnbull. While the questions he was asked may seem a little basic I thought it worth reprinting the transcript here: Can you explain sunspots? Sunspots are dark spots on the surface of the sun that are cooler and less active than the surrounding areas. They are caused by intense magnetic activity and are associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Sunspots can last for a few days to a few months and their number and size varies over time in a pattern known as the sunspot cycle. The sunspot cycle is roughly 11 years long and during the maximum phase of the cycle, there are more sunspots and more solar activity. Sunspots have been observed and studied for centuries and have been found to have a significant impact on Earth's climate and weather. What effect do sunspots have on the earth’s ionosphere? Sunspots can have a significant impact on the Earth's ion...
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