Solar activity has suddenly increased and may reach a second maximum.

In September, the average annual index of the solar cycle F10.7 increased significantly, exceeding the peak values of the 24th cycle, which suggests the possibility of a second maximum in the current solar cycle. This was reported on October 3 at the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the IKI RAS and the ISSF SB RAS.

"Measurements of the solar cycle index F10.7 for the past September. The monthly average increased significantly and unpredictably and reached a level of 201 units. This is higher than the peak values of the previous 24th cycle, which reached a maximum of 170 in 2014, and is only 18% lower than the peak of the current cycle (245 units in August 2024)," a statement on the IKI RAS website says.

Experts emphasized that this growth is observed in the physical index F10.7, which is calculated from measurements of the Sun's radio emission, unlike the second solar index, which is based on calculating the number of sunspots and does not demonstrate such dynamics, remaining on the forecast line.

Despite the increase in solar activity in September, the number of magnetic storms did not reach the levels of last year. There have been no top-level X outbreaks in the last three months, the scientists noted.

The news is being updated