Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle [NASA]

NASA predicts that the Sun will also reverse its own magnetic poles during 2011++ as result of reaching the end of current 11-year sunspot cycle. Some believe this will amplify the effects of retarding magnetic field on earth, as harmful charged particles blasted away from the sun would more easily penetrate the earth's atmosphere.

Right: An erupting solar prominence photographed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

Dec. 21, 2006: Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one.
see captionSolar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 "looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21dec_cycle24.htm

Solar Storm Warning

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/10mar_stormwarning.htm