Understanding the Recent Solar Coronial Hole and Its Impact on Earth’s Magnetic Shield

KOMPAS.com – A very large dark hole recently appeared near the Sun’s equator.

This hole, 60 times as wide as Earth, is unprecedented at this stage of the solar cycle.

Also read: Scientists First Discover Aurora on the Sun

So what is it?

The hole is known as a coronal hole. However, according to experts, the newest giant hole currently makes it possible to release a very fast flow of radiation or what is often called the solar wind towards Earth.

Collect Live Science, Wednesday (6/12/2023) this new coronal hole formed near the Sun’s equator on December 2 and reached a maximum width of around 800,000 kilometers within 24 hours.

Coronal holes occur when the magnetic field holding the Sun in place suddenly opens, causing the contents of the Sun’s upper surface to flow in the form of the Solar wind.

Coronal holes appear as dark patches because they are cooler and less dense than the surrounding plasma.

This is similar to the reason why sunspots appear black.

But unlike sunspots, coronal holes are invisible except in ultraviolet light.

Furthermore, this coronal hole apparently allows the very fast solar wind to travel towards Earth.

This rapid flow of radiation often triggers disruptions in the Earth’s magnetic shield known as the geomagnetic body.

Also read: New calculations reveal the size of the sun is smaller than expected

Previously, the last coronal hole in the Sun appeared last March and spewed out the most powerful geomagnetic storm to hit Earth in more than six years.

Recent hole impact on the Sun

Initially, experts predicted the latest giant hole could trigger a moderate geomagnetic storm (G2) that could trigger radio blackouts and strong aurora displays for some time.

Fortunately, the intensity of the solar wind turned out to be less than expected so that the storms produced so far have only been weak (G1).

It’s unclear how long the hole will last on the Sun, but previous coronal holes have survived more than one solar rotation (27 days) in the past.

2023-12-10 23:33:00
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