chaos in an unsettled sun
The sun has been going through quite a chaotic period in its 25th solar cycle. But the events in recent two weeks have baffled scientists all over the globe. On February 17, NASA's solar dynamic observatory recorded a massive solar flare peaking at 3:16 pm (ET). It was classified as an X 2.2 flare (i.e., one of the more intense ones).
solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the upper left – on Feb. 17, 2023
The solar flare was so severe that it caused one of the most peculiar solar prominences. Traveling at a latitude of 64°, it circled the around the pole for 8 hours, leading to one of the most strange vortexes ever observed. The filament was so massive that its diameter was bigger than the earth.
Following this event, two solar flares classified as M3.7 class and M6.3 class were again observed on Friday(24) and Saturday(25), respectively. This resulted in a radio disruption for almost an hour.
Dark spots
Dark spots, also known as sunspots, are areas on the surface of the sun that appear darker than their surroundings. They are caused by magnetic activity within the sun, which inhibits the flow of hot plasma from below the surface to the top. This results in a cooler, darker region on the surface, which we see as a sunspot.
Now, you may be wondering why these dark spots are significant. Well, they are an indication of the sun's activity level. The sun goes through cycles of increased and decreased activity, which last approximately 11 years. During times of increased activity, there are more sunspots visible on the surface of the sun. This is because the magnetic fields within the sun become more complex and active, which causes more inhibition of plasma flow and thus more sunspots.
No. of sunspot vs year
But why should we care about the sun's activity level? Well, it turns out that the sun's activity has a profound impact on our planet. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which are associated with sunspot activity, can release massive amounts of energy and charged particles into space. When these particles reach Earth, they can interact with our magnetic field and atmosphere, creating beautiful auroras but also potentially causing disruptions to satellite communications and power grids.
Solar flare
So, first things first - what is a sun flare? Well, imagine that the Sun is a giant ball of plasma, constantly roiling and churning with activity. Sometimes, this activity can create intense magnetic fields that get twisted and contorted in all sorts of ways. And when these magnetic fields suddenly snap back into place, they release an incredible amount of energy in the form of a sun flare.
Now, this energy comes in a few different forms. There are bursts of high-energy particles like protons and electrons, which can zip through space and interact with our own planet's magnetic field to create beautiful auroras. There are also bursts of intense X-rays and ultraviolet radiation, which can cause disruptions in our satellite communications and even pose a danger to astronauts in space.
But let's focus on the physics behind how all this happens. When those magnetic fields snap back into place, they release a tremendous amount of energy - enough to heat up the surrounding plasma to millions of degrees Celsius! And as we all know, hot things like to expand. So this superheated plasma starts to blast outwards from the Sun's surface, creating a shockwave that can travel through space at incredible speeds.
Now, all of this might sound pretty chaotic and unpredictable. But actually, scientists have been studying sun flares for decades and have developed some pretty good models of how they work. They know that the magnetic fields on the Sun are constantly shifting and changing, and they can use sophisticated instruments to track those changes and predict when a sun flare might occur.
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| Classes of solar flares |
Sun Prominences
Sun prominence is like a gigantic tendril of plasma reaching out from the Sun, fueled by intense magnetic forces. These are huge, bright, and colorful clouds of gas that erupt from the surface of the Sun. They are one of our star's most fascinating and beautiful features, and they can reach heights up to several hundred thousand kilometers above the solar surface.
The physics behind sun prominences relates to the magnetic fields surrounding the Sun. These magnetic fields can sometimes become twisted and tangled, creating enormous amounts of energy that can cause gas and plasma to be ejected from the Sun's surface as prominences.
Imagine a rubber band twisted so much that it's about to snap. The magnetic fields of the Sun behave similarly, and when they become too twisted and stressed, they release their energy in a burst of plasma and gas. This burst of energy is what we see as solar prominence.
In addition to the twisted magnetic fields, the physics behind sun prominences also involves the interaction between charged particles and magnetic fields. When charged particles move through magnetic fields, they can be accelerated and directed along the field lines, which is what causes the plasma in the prominence to take on its characteristic shape.
To sum it up, In its 25th cycle, the sun has been pretty violent, and as we are reaching closer to its peak activity period in July 2025, the sun is becoming more and more eventful. So behold your curiosities as we enter the turbulent times.
References:
1. NASA | X-Class: A Guide to Solar Flares
2. https://blogs.nasa.gov/solarcycle25/2023/02/17/sun-releases-strong-solar-flare-4/
3. https://blogs.nasa.gov/solarcycle25/2022/06/10/solar-flares-faqs/
- Sanskar (MS21234)
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