Download Threat of Sunshine

The Dangers of Solar Storms and Solar Cycles
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Radius = 696,000 km
Mass = 2E30 kg
Luminosity = 3.8E26 W
Rotation Rate
 25 days at the equator and 30 days at the poles
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Surface Temp
 5,800 K average, 4,000 K sunspots
(Ref 1)
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Nuclear fusion is the source of all the energy
released by the sun
 Steady fusion rates maintain a steady luminosity
 Hydrogen fusion is the primary mechanism
▪ P-P chain
▪ CNO cycle
(Content: Ref 13)
(Image: Ref 10)
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For every 1 million atoms of hydrogen in the
entire sun
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98,000 atoms of helium
850 of oxygen
360 of carbon
120 of neon
110 of nitrogen
40 of magnesium
35 of silicon
35 of iron
(Content: Ref 13)
(Image: Ref 11)
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Plasma
 Gas whose temperature is so hot it becomes
sensitive to magnetism
 Ionized due to high temperatures
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Most energy is lost to electromagnetic
radiation
 Visible light
 Infrared
(Ref 13)
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Particle radiation also emits energy
 Flares and coronal mass ejections release intense
concentrations of energetic particles
 Hazardous to astronauts in orbit and satellites
(Content: Ref 13)
(Image: Ref 12)
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<http://solar.physics.montana.edu/press/WashPost/Horizon/196l031099-idx.html>.
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<http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/img/mpb.pdf>.
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<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07oct_afraid.htm>.
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25-Sep-2007
ve_star_struct.jpg
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