Download sunspots

Sun phenomena
sunspots
• By tracking
them, we
realized the
sun rotates
• Click here
Sunspot up close
What causes sunspots?
• The magnetic field gets twisted inside the sun
• Click here
Sunspots are ticking time bombs that
lead to explosions on the sun’s surface
• Coronal loops / coronal arches
• Solar flares
• Solar prominences AKA Coronal Mass
Ejections (CMEs)
Coronal loops- gases held up in a magnetic
loop—reach from sunspot to sunspot
Solar Flare- a magnetic storm that explodes huge amounts
of particles and gases STRAIGHT OUT from the surface of
the Sun.
Solar prominence—a MASSIVE arc of gas &
particles that erupt from the surface of the Sun
Solar prominence – AKA coronal mass
ejection (CME)
Coronal mass ejection CME
• balloon shaped plasma burst
• An ejection from August 2012:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrnGiq6iWc&feature=player_embedded#!
Prominence/CME--Look at the size of Earth!
Solar wind
• streaming electrically charged atomic particles
that constantly escape from the Sun through
coronal holes, which are weak spots in the Sun’s
magnetic field.
• It is faster and much hotter than Earth’s wind.
• Solar wind is traveling at about 1 million miles an
hour by the time it gets close to Earth.
• If it blew on the Earth’s surface, it would
obliterate all life, but Earth’s magnetic field and
atmosphere protect the planet.
• Click here
NOTES
Sun- average age and average temperature star that
is a bit on the small side
• Cycle of solar activity- 11 year cycle of
sunspots
-Sunspot- cool, dark area on the sun [like a
ticking time bomb that will explode some
day] created by twisted magnetic fields
-showed us the sun rotates
Where is sunspot maximum &
minimum?
• Solar flare- explodes from sunspot and goes
into space (several per day to 1 per 2 weeks)
–Messes up tv, radio, cell phones, aviation
and space communications
–Flares interact with earth’s ionosphere
making auroras
»Aurora borealis- northern lights
»Aurora australis- southern lights
• [HOW? nutrinos from solar flares follow magnetic
field then charged particles collide with particles in
ionosphere creating light. Sound is claimed by some
as well] click here and here
• Coronal loop- arching column of gas that
follows magnetic lines (doesn’t leave Sun)
• Prominence/Coronal Mass Ejection –
CME Massive explosion from the sun
that ejects ten billion tons of mass
(protons) and energy into space
Sun’s layers
• Core- fusion occurs here
• Radiative zone- electromagnetic waves
(energy) bounce around like a pinball,
taking a million years to escape
• Convection zone- heat rises and cold
sinks
• Photosphere- visible surface of the sun
• Chromosphere- the bottom of the sun’s
atmosphere (see through)
• Corona (crown)- the top of the sun’s
atmosphere (see through)
Great website
• http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/Nat
Sci102/lectures/sun.htm