Credit: SDO/AIAĬolorful Type II polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) form when the temperature in the stratosphere drops to a staggeringly low -85C. Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, AntarcticaĮarth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from this coronal hole.
Neutron counts from the University of Oulu's Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory show that cosmic rays reaching Earth are slowly declining-a result of the yin-yang relationship between the solar cycle and cosmic rays. Credit: SDO/HMIĬosmic Rays Solar Cycle 25 is intensifying, and this is reflected in the number of cosmic rays entering Earth's atmosphere. Growing sunspot AR3529 has a beta-gamma magnetic field that poses a threat for strong M-class solar flares.