Solar cycle 2

Solar cycle 2 was the second solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 9 years, beginning in June 1766 and ending in June 1775. The maximum smoothed sunspot number (monthly number of sunspots averaged over a twelve-month period) observed during the solar cycle was 115.8 (September 1769), and the minimum was 7.2.

Sunspot observations by Alexander Wilson during this period established the Wilson effect.

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Solar cycle 14

Solar cycle 14 was the fourteenth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 11.5 years, beginning in February 1902 and ending in August 1913. The maximum smoothed sunspot number (monthly number of sunspots averaged over a twelve-month period) observed during the solar cycle was 64.2, in February 1906 (the lowest since the Dalton Minimum), and the minimum was 1.5. There were a total of approximately 1019 days with no sunspots during this cycle (the second highest recorded of any cycle to date).

Geomagnetic storms in November 1903, March 1905, and September 1909 affected telegraph lines.

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Solar cycle 22

Solar cycle 22 was the 22nd solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 9.7 years, beginning in September 1986 and ending in May 1996. The maximum smoothed sunspot number (monthly number of sunspots averaged over a twelve-month period) observed during the solar cycle was 158.5 (July 1989), and the minimum was 8. The maximum is identical with that of solar cycle 3, making it the equal third highest peak on record. There were a total of 309 days with no sunspots during this cycle.

March 1989 geomagnetic storm

During March 1989, a severe geomagnetic storm caused the collapse of Hydro-Québec's electricity transmission system. The geomagnetic storm causing this event was itself the result of a Coronal Mass Ejection on March 9, 1989. A few days before, on March 6, 1989, a very large X15 solar flare also occurred. At 2:44 am on March 13, 1989, a severe geomagnetic storm struck Earth. The storm began on Earth with extremely intense auroras at the poles. The aurora could be seen as far south as Texas. As this occurred during the Cold War, many worried that a nuclear first-strike might be in progress. Others considered the intense auroras to be associated with the Space Shuttle mission STS-29, which had been launched on March 13 at 9:57:00 AM. The burst caused short-wave radio interference, including the disruption of radio signals from Radio Free Europe into Russia. It was initially believed that the signals had been jammed by the Soviet government.