solar cycle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Advanced)Scientific, Academic, Technical, Occasionally Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “solar cycle” mean?
The approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity, marked by changes in sunspot numbers and other solar phenomena.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity, marked by changes in sunspot numbers and other solar phenomena.
Any regular, periodic pattern related to the Sun's behavior, or metaphorically, any long-term cyclical pattern with alternating high and low phases.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical in scientific contexts. Slight preference for 'sunspot cycle' as a near-synonym in some American technical writing.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, confined to relevant scientific and educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “solar cycle” in a Sentence
The solar cycle [verbs: lasts, varies, peaks, wanes, influences]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “solar cycle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Scientists have been cycling their observations to match the solar period.
American English
- The data is cycled to filter out short-term noise from the long-term solar signal.
adverb
British English
- The sun behaves solar-cyclically, with predictable maxima and minima.
American English
- The activity increased solar-cycle-wise, as predicted.
adjective
British English
- The solar-cycle data shows a clear correlation with radio disturbance.
American English
- We observed solar-cycle variations in the magnetic data.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in industries like satellite insurance or renewable energy forecasting.
Academic
Common in astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, and climate science papers.
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in popular science articles about space weather or auroras.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in research, space weather reports, and scientific modelling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “solar cycle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “solar cycle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “solar cycle”
- Using plural 'solars cycles' (incorrect).
- Confusing 'solar cycle' (activity) with 'Milankovitch cycles' (orbital).
- Misspelling as 'solar circle'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it varies. The average is about 11 years, but individual cycles can last from 9 to 14 years.
There is ongoing research. While the total solar irradiance variation is small (~0.1%), some correlations with regional climate patterns are studied, but it is not a primary driver of current global warming.
It is the 25th solar cycle since rigorous record-keeping began in 1755. Each cycle is numbered sequentially.
The 11-year Schwabe cycle tracks sunspot numbers. The full 22-year Hale cycle is the magnetic cycle, where the Sun's magnetic field polarity returns to its original state after two sunspot cycles.
The approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity, marked by changes in sunspot numbers and other solar phenomena.
Solar cycle is usually scientific, academic, technical, occasionally journalistic in register.
Solar cycle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsəʊ.lə ˌsaɪ.kəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsoʊ.lɚ ˌsaɪ.kəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] 'We're at the peak of our productivity cycle, like the solar maximum of a solar cycle.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SOLAR CYCLE: Sun's Oscillating Light And Radiance Cycles Like Earth's (seasons).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SUN HAS A HEARTBEAT / THE SUN HAS SEASONS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the typical duration of the main solar (sunspot) cycle?