Research Shows Sun’s Magnetic Field Originates Closer to Surface

May 25, 2024

Recent studies and observations have shown that solar activity, especially solar storms, can have huge effects on Earth. Earth was hit by strong solar storms earlier this month, which included coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and strong solar flares. These storms caused beautiful auroras and problems with power and communication systems.

Understanding the Sun’s Magnetic Field

According to a new study from an international team, the sun’s magnetic field is created much closer to the surface than was thought before. They say it’s about 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) below, instead of the over 130,000 miles (209,000 kilometres) that was thought before. They were published in the magazine Nature, and the use of advanced computer models run on NASA supercomputers was a big part of how they were found.

What is the Solar Dynamo Process?

The method by which the sun’s magnetic field is made is called the solar dynamo. It is a complicated system where the sun’s magnetic field and the moving of plasma work together. This plasma flow changes with location and changes about every 11 years during the solar cycle. New research has created better models that accurately describe these interactions, which show that the magnetic field is created closer to the surface than earlier models had suggested.

Historical Context and Advances in Solar Observation

The history of studying the sun and how it affects Earth goes back a long way. In the early 1600s, Galileo was the first person to use a lens to look at sunspots. There are darker, cooler spots on the sun’s surface called sunspots. They are closely connected to the sun’s magnetic action, such as solar flares and CMEs. With the help of current technology and computer modelling, our knowledge of these kinds of solar events has grown a lot.

More About Solar Dynamo

Mechanism and Cycle: The Sun’s magnetic field is created by the solar dynamo, which is powered by the flow of plasma inside the sun. This process goes through an 11-year loop called the solar cycle, during which the magnetic field changes its direction. These three things—solar spin, convection, and helical turbulence—work together to make the solar dynamo work. They are called the “α-effect” and the “Ω-effect.”

Manifestations of Solar Magnetic Activity: Dynamo theory helps explain several things that happen when the sun’s magnetism is active. Strong magnetic action has made dark spots appear on the Sun’s surface. On the Sun’s surface, sudden bursts of energy. A lot of plasma and magnetic fields are being pushed out of the Sun’s atmosphere.

Impact on the Heliosphere and Earth: The heliosphere, the bubble-like area of space dominated by the solar wind, is greatly affected by the action of the solar dynamo. The heliosphere gets smaller when the sun isn’t active, which changes the flow of cosmic rays and the weather in space that affects Earth. These changes could affect how satellites work, how information systems work, and even how the weather works on Earth.

What is Solar Flares?

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation that happen when sunspots let go of magnetic energy. By messing up GPS and communications, flares can change the Earth’s atmosphere. In line with the Sun’s energy cycle, they reach their highest point every 11 years. Stellar flares from other stars tell us about the magnetic fields in the atmospheres of stars. A million 100-megaton atomic bombs can’t put out as much energy as a solar flare. Flare classifications range from A, B, C, M, to X, with X being the strongest. Events like the Carrington Event in 1859 can have big effects on modern technology, which is a sign of things that might go wrong in our world, which is becoming more and more digital.

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