Polar coronal holes have begun to form again on the Sun — structures that almost completely disappeared in 2021–2022. This was reported by the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the IKI and ISZF.
According to images from orbital observatories, a stable dark zone has already been observed in the region of the star's north pole over the past week, and a decrease in brightness is noted in the southern polar region. This indicates the beginning of a similar process.
Polar holes differ from ordinary coronal holes not only in their location, strictly at the poles, but also in their lifespan — such formations can persist in the same place for years. Powerful solar wind flows are recorded inside polar holes, the speed of which is significantly higher than that of flows from ordinary coronal holes. However, due to their direction along the solar axis, they have practically no direct impact on Earth.
Astronomers consider the appearance of polar holes as a sign of weakening solar activity.
This also explains their absence in recent years — the objects were destroyed due to the Sun passing the peak of the 25th activity cycle in 2023-2024. Accordingly, their appearance indicates an objective decrease in solar activity this year, although, globally, it still remains at a fairly high level, still causing significant "inconvenience" to the Earth.
Earlier www1.ru reported that a solar prominence reached Earth on July 26.
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