Solar cycle 24 in more detail

Scientists have gone on record to predict "the next solar cycle will be up to 50 percent stronger than the previous." (NASA)It is known as Cycle 24 and is expected to be as much as 50 percent stronger than its predecessor C-23. There has been ongoing debate whether Cycle 24 began on July 1st 2006, or began January 4th 2008. What determines a new solar cycle is when the first sunspot distributes a 'reverse' magnetic field. Over the last several months, the sunspot and solar activity have been extremely mild. This is known as 'solar minimum'. From this point on, solar activity will begin to ramp up with more significant activity becoming noticeable by the end of this year.Cycle 23 introduced us to the largest solar flare "ever recorded". On November 4th 2003 a solar flare coming from just around the western limb of the Sun exploded. It was measured as an X-40. Until this moment, nothing had measured past an X-9. (at least since instruments were developed to measure). The strength of this event measured an X-40, of which such strength had never been witnessed or anticipated. Even to this day we can only speculate the damage it would have caused to our power grids, satellites, GPS, and any number of devices which depend on communication or directional satellites. Also note Cycle 24's 'apex' (maximum) occurs between 2011 and 2012. I suggest our Mayan elders knew of this all along and is in association with Mayan prophecy and calendar.
Solar Storm Warning: You Have One Year or Less to Prepare. The american federal government now predicts a new cycle of solar storms will begin to intensify by spring (in the northern hemisphere, autumn in the southern hemisphere) 2008. By this time we will start to see larger and possibility of dangerous consequences. The new set of storms are expected to peak around the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012. That's the conclusion of some scientists at NASA and NOAA.Solar storms lead to violent eruptions on the Sun's surface. There'll be solar flares and explosions sending highly charged matter toward Earth's atmosphere. This jolts Earth's geomagnetic field and ionosphere. That can lead to disruption of electric grids and communications systems.