El Caracol - Ancient Mayan Observatory El Castillo

Plasma – the 4 th state of matter, acts like a gas, but does not have a definite shape, or volume, unless restricted 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 solar atmosphere 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

Corona Outer 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.

SUNSPOTS are 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.

SUNSPOTS Occur 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?