Theory 78/Solar cycle/Termination phase
Cycle Ends on Field Reversal
The claim
A cycle ends when the ratio of poloidal to toroidal field crosses one in the opposite sense, so the termination is a topological event rather than a decline.
01Mechanism
The dynamo reverses polarity at maximum; the ratio marks the crossing.
02Prediction
Termination should coincide with polarity reversal.
03Refutation
Termination tracking sunspot minimum would remove reversal.