New research shows that the Sun’s magnetic field originates near the surface and not deep inside the star, . This caps a decade of prevailing scientific thinking that placed the field more than 130,000 miles below the surface of the Sun. It also brings us closer to understanding the nature of the Sun’s magnetic field, which scientists have thought about since Galileo.
A study by a team of international researchers suggests that the magnetic field is actually generated 20,000 miles below the surface. This was discovered after the team performed a series of complex calculations on a NASA supercomputer. It is worth noting that these are only initial findings and further research is needed to confirm the data.
The Sun’s magnetic field fluctuates in a cycle that lasts 11 years. During the strongest part of this cycle, strong winds and sunspots form at the solar equator, along with the clouds of material they cause here on Earth. Previous theories that place the magnetic field deeper into the Sun have had trouble connecting these different solar phenomena. Scientists hope that with further study, they will be able to use this theory not only to explain how solar events occur, but also to more accurately predict when they will occur.
Every second, 1.5 million tons of solar material are ejected from the Sun, traveling at 100 miles per second. Earth’s magnetic field deflects most, but not all. The solar wind, a stream of charged particles, flows at 447 km/s (1 million mph), and while the magnetic field protects… pic.twitter.com/40CSNZYesU
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This could lead to more than just earlier predictions of the next aurora event. The Sun’s intense magnetic energy is also the source of solar flares and plasma eruptions called coronal mass ejections. When these jets travel towards Earth, all sorts of bad things happen. This famously happened in 1859, when a giant geomagnetic storm created the largest solar storm in recorded history.
It is attributed to the British astronomer Richard Christopher Carrington. The solar flare, which was actually a magnetic explosion on the surface of the Sun, briefly overtook the Sun and caused colorful lights similar to the aurora to erupt across the planet. It also overcharged telegraph cables, shocked operators, and ignited telegraph paper. It was pretty ugly.
Now, this was 1859, before the modern use of electricity and before computers and all related technology. If something like the Carrington event were to happen today, . The emitted X-rays and ultraviolet light would interfere with electronics, radio and satellite signals. The event would cause a solar radiation storm that would be deadly for astronauts not fully equipped with protective gear.
This would also lead to a coronal mass ejection that would collide with Earth’s magnetic field, which is the satellites of cell phones, modern cars, and even airplanes. The resulting global power outages could last for months. A small (relatively speaking) storm passed and it was no Carrington-sized event. Even worse? We are absolutely in favor of this happening. It’s basically a ticking time bomb.
So these findings could theoretically be used to develop new early warning methods for large-scale solar flares hitting Earth. One day we may have solar flare warnings alongside hurricane warnings and such. Research has already shown some interesting connections between sunspots and the Sun’s magnetic activity.
“We still don’t understand the sun well enough to accurately predict” solar weather, study lead author Geoffrey Vasil of the University of Edinburgh . These new findings “will be an important step toward finally solving” this mysterious Northwestern University process.
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