<P> In early 2013, after several months of calm, it was obvious that the active 2011 was not a prelude to a widely predicted late 2012 - early 2013 peak in solar flares, sunspots and other activity . This unexpected stage prompted some scientists to propose a "double - peaked" solar maximum, which then occurred . The first peak reached 99 in 2011 and the second peak came in early 2014 at 101 . </P> <P> According to NASA, the intensity of geomagnetic storms during Solar Cycle 24 may be elevated in some areas where the Earth's magnetic field is weaker than expected . This fact was discovered by the THEMIS spacecraft in 2008 . A 20-fold increase in particle counts that penetrate the Earth's magnetic field may be expected . Solar Cycle 24 has been the subject of various hypotheses and commentary pertaining to its potential effects on Earth . </P> <P> While acknowledging that the next solar maximum will not necessarily produce unusual geomagnetic activity, astrophysicist Michio Kaku has taken advantage of the media focus on the 2012 phenomenon to draw attention to the need to develop strategies for coping with the terrestrial damage that such an event could inflict . He asserts that governments should ensure the integrity of electrical infrastructures, so as to prevent a recurrence of disruption akin to that caused by the solar storm of 1859 . </P> <P> The current solar cycle is currently the subject of research, as it is not generating sunspots in the manner which would be expected . Sunspots did not begin to appear immediately after the last minimum (in 2008) and although they started to reappear in late 2009, they were at significantly lower rates than anticipated . </P>

Where is the sun in its sunspot cycle currently