The Sun has entered its solar maximum — a period of heightened solar activity that occurs roughly every 11 years and is marked by an increase in sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). According to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), this peak phase of Solar Cycle 25 began last year and could continue through this year.

How Will It Impact Earth?

While the solar maximum has only a minor effect on Earth’s climate compared to human-driven climate change, it can significantly disrupt technology and infrastructure. Here’s what scientists say we can expect:

More Sunspots: These cooler, darker regions on the Sun’s surface become more numerous during the solar maximum. “This increase in activity provides an exciting opportunity to learn about our closest star — but also causes real effects at Earth and throughout our solar system,” said Jamie Favors, director of NASA’s Space Weather Program.

Satellite Risks: Higher solar activity brings more radiation, which can damage satellite electronics and force some satellites to deorbit. Lisa Upton, co-chair of the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel, noted that sunspot activity in Solar Cycle 25 has slightly exceeded earlier predictions.

Disruptions to Communication: Solar flares can unleash powerful bursts of radiation, disrupting satellite navigation, GPS systems, and radio broadcasts. Large CMEs can spark geomagnetic storms that may damage power grids and cause blackouts.

Health Risks: Increased radiation levels also raise health risks for astronauts and passengers on high-altitude flights.

Stronger Auroras: The solar maximum leads to more frequent and intense auroras, as charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere. However, auroras can still appear during solar minimum, since the Sun never completely stops emitting energetic particles.

NASA and NOAA recommend keeping an eye on space weather updates from official sources. Experts also suggest shielding sensitive electronics and infrastructure and building redundant systems to minimize disruption from solar storms.

Though scientists cannot pinpoint the exact month of peak solar activity until later, the coming months and years could bring remarkable solar phenomena — and potential challenges for technology-dependent life on Earth.