Posted on 10/19/2013 7:04:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
To understand the coronal heating problem, imagine a flame coming out of an ice cube. A similar effect occurs on the surface of the Sun. Nuclear fusion in the center of the Sun heats the solar core to 15 million degrees. Moving away from this furnace, by the time one arrives at the surface of the Sun, the gas has cooled to a relatively refreshing 10,800° Fahrenheit (6,000° Celsius). But the temperature of the gas in the corona, above the solar surface, soars back up to over 1.8 million degrees F (1 million degrees C). What causes this unexpected temperature increase has puzzled scientists since 1939.
Two dominant theories exist to explain this mystery. One attributes the heating to the loops of the magnetic field, which stretch across the solar surface and can snap and release energy. Another ascribes the heating to waves emanating from below the solar surface, which carry magnetic energy and deposit it in the corona. Observations show both of these processes continually occur on the Sun. Until now, scientists have been unable to determine if either one of these mechanisms releases sufficient energy to heat the corona to such high temperatures.
Hahn and Savins recent observations show that magnetic waves are the answer. The advance opens up a realm of further questions, chief among them is what causes the waves to damp. Hahn and Savin are planning new observations to try to address this issue.
(Excerpt) Read more at astronomy.com ...
This is one of the highest-resolution images ever taken of the solar corona, or outer atmosphere. It was captured by NASA's High Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) in the ultraviolet wavelength of 19.3 nanometers. NASA
I didn’t do it.
It Africa hot.
A while back people got all crazy about magnets as a cure for all sorts of diseases and conditions.
Now that fad has pretty much passed into history's dust bin.
More Magnets = Global Warming
Fewer magnets = Global Climate Stabilization
Like a sauna.
“Imagine a flame coming out of an ice cube”.
Great. Now I’ll have nightmares about drinking lemonade and getting my face burned off.
No more ice in the Jim Beam and Coke. Has anyone told the FDA about this flamethrower ice? I blame it on the Danes.
This adds another dimension to the song, "How Great Thou Art," doesn't it?
At the very low pressures in the corona it is not clear exactly what the term “temperature” means. There are several different ways to define the term and they give very different results.
I’m not alone in having to use a standard denial?
Hooray!
the one at 10 o’clock is the sun... http://www.spacesounds.com/home/index.html
Methane Hydrate...
I wish they’d leave our Sun alone...they’re gonna break it
What other ways of defining it are there other than mean kinetic energy of the gas molecules (relative to one another)? Internal excitation? Furthermore, how different are the results? The corona was discovered (by an amateur) at radio frequencies, so at least the RF temperature measurement agrees with however T is being measured today. Please explain your post.
It’s a fair point but remember this is not a part of the universe in thermal equilibrium, so strictly speaking there is no actual temperature in this region, only an average temperature. It’s possible to measure that via ionization emission spectra, and that average is pretty well established.
Magnetic coronal ovens will replace microwaves. Buy stock now!
Someone is mucking about with the calthrate ice again!
Someone is mucking about with the calthrate ice again!
Someone is mucking about with the calthrate ice again!
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