coronal hole
Quick Summary
A coronal hole is a region in the Sun's solar atmosphere where the density of gas is lower than in surrounding areas. From these regions, charged particles escape more easily, creating high-speed streams of solar wind. These streams can interact with slower solar wind particles, causing disturbances that lead to magnetic storms on Earth.1
Coronal holes are associated with open magnetic fields on the Sun, allowing hot material to escape. Unlike regions with strong magnetic fields where coronal material is trapped, coronal holes allow for outward flow. Analysis of solar wind data indicates that equatorial coronal holes are linked to high-velocity streams and recurrent geomagnetic storms. These holes can persist for multiple solar rotations, leading to recurring magnetic storms.21
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geomagnetic fieldCause of magnetic storms…storms is the existence of coronal holes around the Sun. X-ray images of the Sun made during the 1970s by the U.S. Skylab astronauts revealed that the corona of the Sun is not homogeneous but often exhibits “holes”—regions within the solar atmosphere in which the density of gas is lower…
Read More…storms is the existence of coronal holes around the Sun. X-ray images of the Sun made during the 1970s by the U.S. Skylab astronauts revealed that the corona of the Sun is not homogeneous but often exhibits “holes”—regions within the solar atmosphere in which the density of gas is lower…
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coronal mass ejectionProperties…features on the Sun called coronal holes that live for several months and generate corotating interaction regions (disturbances in the solar wind where the fast solar wind from the coronal holes catches up with the slow solar wind) that repeat on the 27-day solar rotation period. Nonrecurrent storms occur sporadically…
Read More…features on the Sun called coronal holes that live for several months and generate corotating interaction regions (disturbances in the solar wind where the fast solar wind from the coronal holes catches up with the slow solar wind) that repeat on the 27-day solar rotation period. Nonrecurrent storms occur sporadically…
Read More