Thursday, April 17, 2008
DISCUSSION ON ARTICLE
Sun's Mysterious Waves Found; May Be Solar Wind Source
This article is indeed not easy to understand, especially when many scientific terms are used. Therefore, to understand this article better, let’s look into it and discuss.
· Main issues:
This article is about the newest research of the scientists on the Powerful magnetic waves in the sun's atmosphere which was first predicted by and named after a Swedish physicist Hannes Alfvén. This research is aided by Hinode satellite.
· Definition of solar wind:
Solar wind is a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the Sun with an average velocity of about 400 km/sec. It is a natural consequence of the Sun being so hot - the corona gas has too much energy to be gravitationally bound to the Sun.
· Significance of the article:
- How is the research done?
1. Rapid-fire pictures of various solar structures are taken by the obiter’s instrument.
2. Hinode’s high-speed camera takes photographs of spicules every 5 secconds.
3. These pictures are then combined to a movie-like photo sequences to show how several solar structures interact with the long-suspected magnetic waves.
- “Breakneck” speed of charged particles through space?
About two million miles (three million kilometres) per hour è from the sun they reach Earth's orbit within two days
- Benefit VS Danger:
Solar wind is an endless clean energy VS it can carry "space weather" from solar flares or other disturbances on the sun's surface, causing auroras, disrupt satellites and radio communications, and even damage power grids è Understanding solar wind help scientists better predict the impacts of space weather
- Limitation:
The new studies do not allow for the prediction of solar flares and other disruptive explosions from the sun.-Althea.
the sun left its mark!