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Explosion on The Sun - Solar Flares the 8 Minute Journey

Solar system flares are the biggest explosions in the universe, and the most energetic. These were first discovered by Galileo in the early 17th century, and later on in 1859 by an English amateur astronomer by the name of Richard Christopher Carrington. Consequently, they have not only been observed on the sun, however are also viewed on other stars likewise.

A solar flare can be a large explosion in the sun atmosphere which can release about 6 � 1025 joules of energy(about a sixth of the total energy output of the sun each second). Although difficult to predict their occurrence with any certainty, the only warning lies in the undeniable fact that most proton storms take a couple of hours from the time of visual detection to succeed in earth's orbit (providing little time to arrange due to the impact).

Solar flares are generated by an operation called magnetic reconnection whereby opposite magnetic fields on the sun's surface get together causing a sudden release of energy. Solar flares affect all layers of the solar atmosphere (photosphere, corona, and chromosphere), causing plasma to heat to tens of millions of kelvins(a unit of measurement of temperature) and accelerating electrons, protons, and heavier ions to near the speed of light. In fact, while the fastest trip to the moon took 8 hours and 38 minutes, solar flares only take a mere 8 minutes to locate their distance to the earths ionosphere an can have damaging effects. These flares produce radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum in the least wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays and consequently, may cause damaging effects on the earth like: Loss of power systems, radiation poisoning, rendering chip ran vehicles powerless, affecting inter-planetary travel for astronauts, and also mobile phones (and also other electronics) and satellite interruptions (and various other systems operating at those frequencies).

Most flares occur in active regions around sunspots (visible brown spots on the photosphere of the sun), where intense magnetic fields penetrate the photosphere (deepest region of the sun) to link the corona (type of plasma atmosphere that extends far into space) to the solar interior. Flares are powered by the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the corona. If the solar flare is exceptionally powerful, there may be coronal mass ejections(massive burst of wind, plasma, magnetic strength that is released into space).

Solar activity varies through an 11-year cycle (the solar cycle). At the peak of the cycle you will discover typically more sunspots on the Sun, and so more solar flares. NASA predicts as the sun approaches its 11 year cycle in 2012, when the sun aligns with the milky way galaxy(a function which only occurs approx. every 211,000 years), will increase the amount of solar flares the sun experiences and possibly increased dangers to the earth (due to potential increased coronal mass ejections).

Although solar flares might be troublesome often, they have also been linked with triggering the breathtaking southern and northern polar lights phenomenons which include the aurora borealis and aurora australis.

The most notable solar storm in history happened in 1859 (called the Carrington Event named after English amateur astronomer Richard Christopher Carrington)causing telegraph wires in both the Us and Europe to spontaneously short out (lasting 8 days), causing numerous fires, and the phenomena of the Northern Lights to remain observed as far south as Rome, Havana and Hawaii. That it was recorded that the Northern Lights were so bright, you can read the newspaper solely from the illumination. Of late, a 1994 solar storm caused major malfunctions to 2 communications satellites, disrupting newspaper, network television and nationwide radio service throughout Canada.

Whether the sun will be in its active or quiet period on or before 2012, scientists can just predict. The truth remains that solar storms occur almost daily and are generally a great deal a part of our existence. The National Academy of Sciences report says a large solar event could induce ground currents that may knock out 300 key transformers within about 90 seconds. You should any impending threats to the earth, as well as wise to hold fast to the old addage,"it's easier to be secure than sorry" and also be served by informing yourself on the best way to survive a massive solar storm.

Reference telescope.