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?