60 times larger than Earth: Enormous large hole in the sun spews solar wind at us.
By illvit - SIMON CLEMMENSEN - 09.12.23
A gaping dark, magnetic void stretches the sun's otherwise yellow surface apart over hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The solar wind rushes out from the interior of the sun and blows through the solar system faster than the speed of sound.
Down to us. - To the earth.
This is the scenario that these days is quietly playing out in the void between our planet and the sun.
Opens the gate to a solar storm
A giant hole in the Sun's atmosphere, 60 times larger than Earth's, has unleashed a powerful solar wind in our direction.
It concerns a so-called coronal hole - a large area where the sun's magnetic field opens up into space.
The hole cannot be seen in ordinary light, such as sunspots, but with ultraviolet wavelengths, we can see large dark spots because the areas are cooler than their surroundings.
Because the magnetic field is open, the solar wind that constantly blows from the sun can more easily escape.
And it can cause a solar storm.
This is how a solar storm can hit Earth
A very powerful solar storm can break through the Earth's magnetic field and overload our electrical systems until they break down - or start to burn.
© Ken Ikeda Madsen
Earth
When the sun erupts, glowing plasma clouds full of electrically charged solar particles are hurled toward the Earth.
It normally takes three to four days for the solar storm to reach Earth.
© Ken Ikeda Madsen
2. Solar storm hits the magnetic field
When the solar storm collides with the Earth's magnetic field, it compresses the magnetic field. This allows the solar particles to enter the atmosphere - most often at the poles, as the magnetic field guides particles in that direction. When the solar storm collides with the Earth's magnetic field, it compresses the magnetic field. This allows the solar particles to enter the atmosphere - most often at the poles, as the magnetic field guides particles in that direction.
© Ken Ikeda Madsen
3. Solar storm short-circuits the power
A strong solar storm can create magnetic disturbances on the ground and break in the electricity and telecommunications networks. A strong solar storm can create magnetic disturbances on the ground and break in the electricity and telecommunications networks.
Satellites can also break apart due to energetic protons and electrons from the solar flare. Satellites can also break apart due to energetic protons and electrons from the solar flare.
The solar wind continuously flows out from the sun and consists mainly of protons and electrons in a state called plasma. The solar wind continuously flows out from the sun and consists mainly of protons and electrons in a state called plasma.
The current hole, which at the time of writing has almost rotated away to the other side of the sun, measures around 800,000 kilometers. The current hole, which at the time of writing has almost rotated away to the other side of the sun, measures around 800,000 kilometers.
For comparison, the Earth's diameter is 12,742 kilometers.
However, neither the coronal hole nor the potential solar storm is anything to be afraid of. However, neither the coronal hole nor the potential solar storm is anything to be afraid of.
In the worst case, the solar particles in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere can disrupt the power grid, satellite operations, radio communication, and navigation systems. In the worst case, the solar particles in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere can disrupt the power grid, satellite operations, radio communication, and navigation systems.
