RAKYAT.NEWS, EDUCATION – The sun is the closest star to Earth and has an important function in the survival of earth’s creatures. Apart from that, the sun is also the main source of energy for human activities, but many of us really don’t understand how the sun works and what role it plays in the natural phenomena that we see every day.
One important aspect of the Sun that deserves further study is its chromosphere. The chromosphere is one of the layers of the Sun’s atmosphere which is located above the photosphere (the outermost layer of the Sun). The chromosphere layer is located between the photosphere and the corona (rare and very hot outer layer of the Sun). The chromosphere is made up of superheated gas and plasma, with temperatures ranging from 4,000 to 50,000 degrees Celsius.
The chromosphere can be seen during a total solar eclipse, in which the moon blocks the sun’s light and makes the chromosphere look like a dark red halo around the edge of the sun. However, while the chromosphere looks beautiful during an eclipse, its role in larger natural phenomena is far more significant.
One of the main functions of the chromosphere is to help maintain the temperature of the photosphere. The photosphere is the outermost layer of the Sun which produces most of the Sun’s light. Without the chromosphere to retain heat, the photosphere is much more easily affected by external factors such as magnetic fields and solar activity that can disrupt electronic systems on Earth.
The chromosphere also plays a role in producing the Sun’s plasma ejection, known as the corona. The corona is very susceptible to solar activity, such as coronal mass eruptions and cosmic rays that affect space weather conditions on Earth. Without the chromosphere and the processes occurring within it, the corona would not exist, and our planetary system could experience significant disturbances.
In addition, the chromosphere is also an interesting object of astronomical study. Recent studies have shown that the chromosphere can generate a series of very fast plasma explosions and shock waves, called Alfvén waves. This phenomenon can provide new insights into the physics of the Sun and the universe as a whole.
