Even The Sun Is Going Into Lockdown Now

nightqueen

May 18, 2020 3:08 PM EDT

If it feels like the lockdown has reached every corner of the universe, you're not exactly wrong. The Sun will soon go into it's own version of a lockdown, which could cause freezing temperatures, droughts and famine (some say). Is it time to get into your underground bunker and start peeing into a bottle? Continue reading below and we'll let you know if you need to panic or not.

via YouTube

"Lockdown" has been the word on everyone's lips for the past few months, so it only makes sense that the Sun wants to copy Earth. But hang on - what the heck is a 'Sun lockdown' and what does it mean for Earth? Firstly, using the word 'lockdown' isn't exactly accurate (it's just such a popular word at the moment). What is actually going to happen is called a 'solar minimum.'
Just like any other planet (or star) in the solar system, the Sun has cycles that changes its characteristics slightly. As we all know, the Sun is a firey star churning with energy. But once in a while, the Sun chills out. This is called a solar minimum, and it happens every eleven years (the next one is predicted to begin around April 2020).
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The Sun's magnetic field (which affects all the solar activity in our universe) goes through periodic cycles where the north and south poles switch spots with each other and then switch back again. In the midpoint of this cycle, the Sun's activity increases (which creates more solar flare ups and radiation). At the end of the cycle, things cool down considerably. This is where we are now.
Scientists are able to measure the activity of the Sun by its sunspots. Sunspots are darker spots on the Sun's surface (much like sunspots on your skin) and they're caused by magnetic field flux that inhibits convection. In simpler terms, they show spots of increased solar activity. At the halfway point of the 11 year cycle, the Sun reaches it's 'solar maximum' where it shows off the most sunspots. In the solar minimum, we see much fewer sunspots (or none at all).
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During a solar minimum, the Sun's solar activity changes form. Scientists are able to see the development of coronal holes. Coronal holes are holes in the solar corona (the outer atmosphere of the Sun) where the Sun's magnetic field opens and allows streams of solar particles to escape from the Sun.
Streams of solar wind coming from coronal holes can temporarily disturb the Earth's magnetic field, causing geomagnetic storms, auroras and disruption to navigation and communication systems. Earth's upper atmosphere can also shrink, causing space debris to hang around Earth (which can be a hazard for satellites). According to historical records, "grand" solar minimums can cause the Earth's temperature to drop up to 2 degrees Celsius. This caused major implications to crops around the world and resulted in famine, wars and really cold weather. But will this happen to us? Probably not.
via YouTube

So to put it in layman's terms, for the next year or so the sun's magnetic field will weaken and provide us less shielding from cosmic rays, which could cause some minor disruptions to Earth. But as far as we can tell, this is not a cause for panic at all. It's just the Sun going through its cycles, and needing a bit of down time (don't we all?). Don't get into that underground bunker just yet. And for god's sake, don't pee in a bottle.