1.  Caused by the magnetic field of the sun  Charged particles spiral along magnetic field lines We draw magnetic field lines (red) to represent invisible magnetic fields. (Ref 1)

2.  The sun’s equator rotates faster that its poles, this causes the magnetic field to get twisted The sun’s rotation twists its magnetic field (Ref 1)

3.  Gas gets trapped in twisted magnetic field lines causing sunspots and solar prominences Magnetic field lines create sunspots and solar prominences (Ref 1)

4.  As lines continue to get twisted tension gets too high and field lines snap causing solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and the solar wind Solar Flare (Ref 1)Coronal Mass Ejection (Ref 1)

5. Solar Cycles  At a solar maximum the frequency and intensity of solar activity increases  11 yr cycle, if pole flip is included 22 yr cycle Records of solar activity clearly show the 11 yr cycle (Ref 1)

6.  Ocean conveyor belt analogy  Dead sunspots are drug 200,000km down into the sun where the dynamo reamplifies them and sends them back up  The sun’s conveyor belt cycle is between 30 and 50 yr long allowing a means to predict intensities of solar maximums Sun’s conveyor belt (Ref 3)The ocean conveyor belt (Ref 3)

7.  The energy released in a solar flare

8. 1. Bennett, Jeffery, Donahue, Megan, Schneider, Nicholas, Voit, Mark, The Cosmic Perspective, 2007 Pearson Education Inc, San Franscisco CA, p.477-496 2. Pacella, Rena Marie. “Anatomy of a Solar Storm.” Popular Science. May 2007. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/7250d257d5ed2110vgnv cm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/7250d257d5ed2110vgnv cm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html 3. Phillips, Tony. “Solar Storm Warning.” NASA. 15 March, 2006. 9 October, 2006. <http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/10mar_stormwarni ng.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/10mar_stormwarni ng.html