Tuesday

Helioseismology has enabled in-depth studies of the solar interior. Of particular interest is what it has to say about the recent history of the solar activity cycle. Previous results from the BiSON dataset showed that, not only was the last minimum in solar activity very unusual, but that the signs were there from earlier. There is evidence that the layer in which the significant magnetic activity is located got thinner.
We now can attempt to anticipate the activity levels at the next minimum. Other seismic data shows that the rotation rate of the Sun has also undergone some changes in the way the Sun rotates at different latitudes.

Key to all these studies is the existence of datasets that go back through several solar activity cycles.