CHAPTER 9: SPACE WEATHER
9.1 Activities of the Sun that affect Earth
Sun – Hydrogen / helium
Layers – Corona ,
- Chromosphere
- Photosphere
Inside – Convention Zone ,
- Radiation Zone
- Core
Phenomena - Granules
- Sunspots
- Solar Cycle
- Prominence
- Solar Flares
- Coronal Mass Ejections
- Solar Winds
GRANULES
Photosphere is made of granules ( grainy structures )
Upper part of the convection zone ( plasma )
Extremely hot ( 5800 C )
Average diameter = 1000 KM
SUNSPOTS
Dark regions on the surface of the Sun
Appear dark because temperature is lower
Large eruptions in the photosphere
Last more than a week
Always exist in pairs or groups
SOLAR CYCLE
Appearance and disappearance of Sunspots
Lasts 11 years.
PROMINENCE
A huge loop/ arched column of glowing gases over the sunspot
Heights of hundreds of thousands of KM
Last for several days or months
If very strong – can throw out matter from the Sun into space
at speeds ( 600 km s-1 -- > 1000 km s-1 )
SOLAR FLARES
A column of large amounts of charged gases erupting
Occurs near sunspot
Strong and spectacular eruptions
Attain maximum brightness within a few seconds or minutes
Dim after a few minutes or hours
Spouts charged gases at high speed into outer space.
Light produced takes 8 minutes to reach Earth
Charged particles takes 10 minutes to reach Earth
Charged gas particles collide with atoms and molecules on
Earth’s atmosphere
Produces a stunning light display in the sky known as aurora
Occurs only in the air space around Earth’s poles
CORONAL MASS EJECTION
Huge cloud of plasma erupts from the Sun
Occurs together with Solar Flares which are huge and strong
An ejection of magnetic gas particles
Spouts magnetic particles at high speed into outer space
Like an expanding cloud
Take 3 days to reach Earth
Reacts with atoms and molecules in Earth’s atmosphere
Produces aurora
SOLAR WIND
Plasma ( Electrons, protons, and alpha particles ) erupt from
the Sun at high speed.
Carries the interplanetary magnetic field
Speed is supersonic ( 250 KM S-1 – 750 KM S-1 )
The speed, temperature and density changes along the course
of its movement.
Earth’s Magnetosphere and it’s Importance
Shape of Earth’s Magnetosphere
Not fixed
Pattern of Earth’s magnetic field lines change slightly
Pattern of magnetic field lines in the magnetosphere changes a
lot ( Based on interaction between Solar Wind and Earth’s
magnetic field )
Definition of Earth’s Magnetosphere
A region in outer space surrounding Earth where the magnetic
field in Earth’s magnetosphere is a combination of Earth’s
magnetic field ( as the prime magnetic field ) and the magnetic
field in the region in outer space.
Formation of Earth’s Magnetosphere
Formed by the interaction between the magnetic field brought
by the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field
Number and energy particles ( Solar Wind ) change = Change of
magnetosphere shape
Importance of Earth’s Magnetosphere
Biological shield to protect life on Earth from the adverse
effect.
Blocks charged particles ( Electrons, Protons, and Alpha
particles ) from reaching Earth
# Excessive number of charged particles will disrupt
telecommunication, navigation system and electric power
lines.
Reduces power exerted on Earth’s atmosphere
9.2 Space Weather
Definition
(Phenomena that occurs on) – the surface of the Sun
# Solar Flares
# Prominence
# Sunspot
# Coronal Mass Ejection
- in space
# Solar Wind
# Solar Radiation Storm
# Geomagnetic Storm
Interpretation of Data on Space Weather
Used / analyzed to :
* Forecast when coronal mass ejections occur in the Sun
* Determine the reasons for the occurrence of solar flares and coronal
mass ejection on the surface of the Sun