Sun’s magnetic field

Context:

Few scientists have claimed that knowing the magnetic field variations can contribute to our understanding of climate and weather.

Concept:

The sun’s magnetic field is generated by a complex process inside the sun called the solar dynamo. The magnetic field starts off as basically up and down, i.e. roughly straight lines between the north and south poles.

The sun’s magnetic field changes polarity approximately every 11 years.  It happens at the peak of each solar cycle as the sun’s inner magnetic dynamo re-organizes itself.The sun’s polar magnetic fields weaken, go to zero and then emerge again with the opposite polarity. This is a regular part of the solar cycle.

Does Earth also has its own magnetic field?

The sun isn’t the only body in the solar system with a magnetic field that reverses. Earth has a magnetic field as well, and it has flipped many times over the last billion years.

Difference between Sun’s Magnetic field and Earth’s magnetic field?

• The magnetic fields of both the sun and the Earth are thought to be generated by similar “dynamo” processes that involve rotating and convecting electrically conducting fluids.
• In case of Earth it is molten iron in the case of the Earth and hot, ionized gases for Sun.
• However Earth’s magnetic field reversals happen much less frequently—only once every 200,000 to 300,000 years on average, whereas for Sun it is 11 years.