1. Sunspots, Prominences, Solar Wind, Solar Flare

2.  a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.  "glaciers are unique and interesting natural phenomena"  synonyms:occurrence, event, happening, fact, situation, circumstance, experience, case, incident, episode

3.  State Standard: 4. F Distinguish the structure and movements of objects in the solar system. (DOK 2) ◦ How phenomena on the sun’s surface (e.g., sunspots, prominences, solar wind, solar flares) affect Earth (e.g., auroras, interference in radio and television communication)

4.  Solar phenomenon have a huge effect on Earth that you probably never realized – scrambling cable and power grids, messing up your GPS, affecting how much light we’re getting, dropping radio/phone reception. Today we’re going to find out why all those things happen!

5.  Have you ever been driving in your car, jamming along to your favorite song on the radio when all of a sudden, the station gets static-y and disappears?  What happened to cause the station to go out?!

6.  Temporary (1)dark spots on the surface of the sun  (2)Cooler areas  Caused by increased magnetic activity

7.  Cooler gases don’t give off as much light as hotter gases so the sunspots look darker!

8.  Do sunspots stand out from the rest of the sun?

9.  (3) Loss of cell phone/radio reception  Increase of intensity of auroras  Change in climate ( 16- 1700’s)?

10.  A natural light display in the sky  When charged particles hit together  Mostly found near Earth’s poles

11.  (4)An arc of gas that erupts from the surface of the Sun  Last for months, held in place by magnetic forces  When they erupt, spew enormous amounts of solar material into space

12.  Power grids, satellites, cable, GPS can all (5) be scrambled  Auroras are intensified

13.  (6) Continuous stream of electrically charged particles (from prominences, sunspots)  Take about 4.5 days to get to Earth

14.  (7) Cause auroras on Earth (and some other planets)  The (8) disruption of electronic communications on Earth  Pushing spacecraft around

15.  What are two phenomena that can affect your cell phone service?

16.  (11) Magnetic storm on the Sun which appears to be a very bright spot and a gaseous surface eruption.  Lasts only for seconds  (12) VERY hot

17.  Can effect radio reception, auroras  Effects planets without atmospheres more then the Earth

18.  Why do sunspots look darker than the rest of the sun’s photosphere?

20.  What is…an arc or loop of gas that links sunspot regions?

22.  What are the very hot surface eruptions that occur when sunspot regions suddenly connect?

24.  What is…a stream of electrically charged particles produced by the corona?

25.  What is…a prominence?

26.  Who can describe four features found on or just above the sun’s surface?

27.  Tracking Sunspots  NEGATIVE COORDINATES = SOUTH AND WEST

28.  You’re on the phone with your boyfriend/girlfriend and they’re about to tell you their BEST secret. All of a sudden THE CALL DROPS!  What two phenomena might have caused the loss of cell phone reception?