Have just been on spaceweather and the pictures are awesome, but what is a coronal hole (no jokes please) I did go to wikipedia and google it but came away with more questions. Also it said that solar winds pass down them and that these can cause blackouts on earth is this different to a CME and a solar flare. No doomsday just interest.
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In fact what is the difference between a CME and a solar flare (I did read page on solar flares - honest)
Chantal…That is a great question…I also have difficulty in understanding it.
Maybe someone will do a basic simple explaination for us…
And thanks in advance to anyone who does.
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I looked up Corona and it means a crown…Wiki it and it helps with the explaination.
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Corona Holes are the polar regions of the sun. They are dark images of the sun, when taken by a x ray photo.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Coronal holes are areas where the Sun's corona is darker, and colder, and has lower-density plasma than average. These were found when X-ray telescopes in the Skylab mission were flown above the Earth's atmosphere to reveal the structure of the corona. Coronal holes are linked to unipolar concentrations of open magnetic field lines. During solar minimum, coronal holes are mainly found at the Sun's polar regions, but they can be located anywhere on the sun during solar maximum. The fast-moving component of the solar wind is known to travel along open magnetic field lines that pass through coronal holes.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space.[1]
Coronal mass ejections are often associated with other forms of solar activity, most notably solar flares, but a causal relationship has not been established. Most ejections originate from active regions on Sun's surface, such as groupings of sunspots associated with frequent flares. Near solar maxima the Sun produces about three CMEs every day, whereas near solar minima there is about one CME every five days.-Wikipedia
A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun's surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release.-Wikipedia.
"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them" - Dalai Lama
Thank you for looking, I read this bit on wiki. Didn't get it then dont get it now. Understand the basics like it is a colder region on the sun but that is about it.
but what is a coronal hole
Had to search Wikipedia for that. It's a darker region of the Sun, where there is a lower-density plasma than average and it's colder than average as well.
Also it said that solar winds pass down them and that these can cause blackouts on earth is this different to a CME and a solar flare.
They are in fact different than CMEs and solar flares. Earth is protected by a strong magnetic field that protects us against most particles. Other particles are diverted to the polar regions of the world, causing beautiful auroras and geomagnetic storms.
In fact what is the difference between a CME and a solar flare
A solar flare often comes with a CME. It is a brightening of a region of the Sun, close to the surface. A CME is simply a huge amount of material from the corona that leaves the Sun like a giant 'blob', reaching Earth in some occasions. The first difference is the size; a CME is very large, while solar flares are very localized events. Solar flares occur near sunspots and it releases many kinds of electromagnetic radition, from white light to gamma rays.
but what is a coronal hole
If you look at close-up pictures of the edge of the Sun, you'll often see coronal loops. These are created by the magnetic field breaking out of the Sun. It's like there were a 'U' magnet just under the surface and the loops follow the magnetic field lines from one pole to the other.
Now imagine a bar magnet just under the surface and perpendicular to it. The magnetic field lines would stream straight out from the surface and this is the situation you get with a coronal hole.
Also it said that solar winds pass down them and that these can cause blackouts on earth
The solar wind is a continuous stream of particles leaving the Sun. It deflects the Earth's magnetic field all the time but it's not until a coronal mass ejection (CME) comes along that things start to get a bit disrupted and blackouts can occur, although very rarely. A CME is a sudden increase in particles streaming away from the Sun.
In fact what is the difference between a CME and a solar flare
Solar flares occur on the Sun. CMEs are generated by them.
Northern Lights are Pretty :).