Towards maximum activity, the heliospheric current sheet became complex and the solar wind sources moved towards the active latitudes. So, for example, an encounter of PSP that spends more time in the solar wind near current sheets will have a smaller Alfvén radii on average. (7/8)

A very dipolar magnetic field became inclined to the rotation axis. (6/8)

The heliospheric current sheet became warped by the emergence of active regions. (5/8)

The evolution of the coronal magnetic field during the solar cycle, strongly influenced the magnetic connectivity of PSP. Each encounter is different, which obscures our perception of the average Alfvén radius. Near minimum, the wind measured by PSP originated closer to the Sun's poles. (4/8)

3D view of this plot:

Here's the same process applied to the Autumn 2025 remote-sensing window:

Here's a comparison of the coronal magnetic field from solar minimum (Dec 2019) and now at solar maximum. The dipole component of the Sun's magnetic field is visibly inclined to the rotation axis.