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12 21 2012
El Caracol - Ancient Mayan Observatory
El Castillo
Plasma –
the 4th state of matter, acts like a gas, but does not have a definite shape, or volume, unlessrestricted to a container.
Examples: lightning, neon light, stars
Convection
Plasma of the sun sort of “boils” like
water in a pot.
The black lines are
cooler, sinking material, the
lighter is rising material.
Photosphere
The surface of the sun can’t be seen with our eyes, the solaratmosphere is too bright.
Sunspots appear on the photosphere during active periods
Chromosphere – inner atmosphere
Chromo – means color, the inner atmosphere is
characterized by a thin band of colorful
activity
CoronaOuter atmosphere of the Sun
You DON’T want to look at
the corona during a solar
eclipse…its too bright!
chromosphere
corona
Nobody knows why the temperature of the sun’s atmosphere rises with altitude, shouldn’t it get cooler as you get away from the Sun?
Magnetic flux ropes – magnetic energy builds up and is released into the chromosphere and corona
transferring heat energy to higher altitudes.
The Solar cycle
SOLAR ACTIVITY – The sun goes through periods of activity and inactivity
The Sun’s
calm and violent
behaviors are cyclic
Galileo saw sunspots as blemishes on the sun’s surface
So what are sunspots and are they always there?
What do sunspots suggest about the sun?
Plot sunspot data for a period of over 30 years and determine
any patterns in sunspot activity.
SUNSPOTSare areas of cooler temperatures,
cooler than the surrounding surface. This image shows sunspots in the
infrared, a less energetic wavelength of light than the color blue.
SUNSPOTSOccur on a regular cycle, and
indicate the twisting of the sun’s magnetic field. When the magnetic
field twists violently, sometimes field lines break through the surface of the
sun causing sunspots.
Field lines are “pent-up” energy and can break, releasing energy like bullets into the solar system. This energy is harmful to cellular life
and electronics.
Solar Flare “flaring” on the surface of the sun is an example of violent activity on the photosphere. They are an indication that the sun is in an “active” period
Coronal Mass Ejections (CME)
are dangerous, charged particles blast from the sun like a shotgun
blast and can “pound” earth.
The best of SOHO
Luckily, the Earth has a force field.
The magnetic field of the Earth protects from harmful particles thrown into
space from solar activity.
But…what if our force field went down?
Photosphere
Chromosphere
Radiative zone
Corona
Core
Convection zone
Sunspot
Was this particular CORONAL
MASS EJECTION
dangerous to earth? Why or why not?