The prediction is specifically aimed at the solar cycle starting in 2020.

Among other things, solar physicists are learning how superheated gas, flowing from the sun's equator to its poles, carries magnetic disturbances that help determine how strong the next solar cycle will be.

As expected at this time in the solar cycle, several large sunspot groups have been evident, although this cycle is expected to be the lowest in solar activity for over 100 years.

The solar cycles can drive great number of geodynamical processes connected with the convections of the Earth fluids on the surface and inside the Earth.

But they do know that the sun's magnetic field is the force behind the tumultuous solar cycle.

The coming reversal will mark the midpoint of Solar Cycle 24.

"How did the polar reversal start so early, even though the onset of the solar cycle, that is, increased activity at lower latitudes, hadn't begun yet?"

Four scientists with the National Solar Observatory have reported three separate signs that the solar cycle may be about to go dead.

The inverse correlation between solar cycle peaks and good years for NLC has been noted for some time and the drawn out solar minimum from about 2006 has allowed us to see clearly the effect of this on NLC frequency and brightness.