Sun's Magnetic Field Forms Close to Surface
2024-05-30
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1New research suggests that the sun's magnetic field forms much closer to the surface than scientists had thought.
2The finding could help predict periods of extreme solar storms like the ones that hit Earth earlier this month.
3The magnetic field appears to form 32,000 kilometers under the sun's surface.
4Earlier estimates suggested the formation began more than 209,000 kilometers below the sun's surface, an international team reported last week.
5The sun's strong magnetic energy is the source of solar flares and bursts of plasma known as coronal mass ejections.
6Plasma is a gas that creates an electromagnetic field.
7When directed toward Earth, the bursts create colorful displays in the sky.
8Such displays are also known as auroras. Auroras can also affect power and communications.
9Geoffrey Vasil is a professor at the University of Edinburgh's School of Mathematics.
10He is a lead writer of the new study, which appeared in the publication Nature.
11Vasil said, "We still don't understand the sun well enough to make accurate predictions" of space weather."
12The Italian scientist Galileo was among the first astronomers to study sunspots.
13He did so in the early 1600s. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections often occur near sunspots.
14The dark spots as big as Earth are located near the most intense parts of the sun's changing magnetic field.
15Vasil and his team created new models of the interaction between the sun's magnetic field and the flow of plasma.
16The interaction varies at different latitudes during an 11-year cycle.
17The team then entered their calculations into a NASA supercomputer in California.
18The results suggested a shallow magnetic field.
19More research is needed to confirm the finding, however.
20The new knowledge should improve long-term solar forecasts, permitting scientists to better predict the strength of the sun's future cycles.
21The sun is nearing its peak level of activity in the current 11-year cycle.
22This is a reason for the recent solar storms.
23Strong solar flares and outbursts of billions of tons of plasma earlier this month created severe solar storms that produced auroras in unexpected places.
24Earlier this month, the sun released its biggest solar flare in almost 20 years, but it avoided Earth.
25Daniel Lecoanet is a professor at Northwestern University in Illinois.
26He is one of the study's co-writers.
27He said better understanding of the sun can help make sure that "we are prepared for when the next storm - potentially much more dangerous - hits Earth."
28I'm Dan Novak.
1New research suggests that the sun's magnetic field forms much closer to the surface than scientists had thought. The finding could help predict periods of extreme solar storms like the ones that hit Earth earlier this month. 2The magnetic field appears to form 32,000 kilometers under the sun's surface. Earlier estimates suggested the formation began more than 209,000 kilometers below the sun's surface, an international team reported last week. 3The sun's strong magnetic energy is the source of solar flares and bursts of plasma known as coronal mass ejections. Plasma is a gas that creates an electromagnetic field. When directed toward Earth, the bursts create colorful displays in the sky. Such displays are also known as auroras. Auroras can also affect power and communications. 4Geoffrey Vasil is a professor at the University of Edinburgh's School of Mathematics. He is a lead writer of the new study, which appeared in the publication Nature. Vasil said, "We still don't understand the sun well enough to make accurate predictions" of space weather." 5The Italian scientist Galileo was among the first astronomers to study sunspots. He did so in the early 1600s. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections often occur near sunspots. The dark spots as big as Earth are located near the most intense parts of the sun's changing magnetic field. 6Vasil and his team created new models of the interaction between the sun's magnetic field and the flow of plasma. The interaction varies at different latitudes during an 11-year cycle. The team then entered their calculations into a NASA supercomputer in California. The results suggested a shallow magnetic field. More research is needed to confirm the finding, however. 7The new knowledge should improve long-term solar forecasts, permitting scientists to better predict the strength of the sun's future cycles. The sun is nearing its peak level of activity in the current 11-year cycle. This is a reason for the recent solar storms. 8Strong solar flares and outbursts of billions of tons of plasma earlier this month created severe solar storms that produced auroras in unexpected places. Earlier this month, the sun released its biggest solar flare in almost 20 years, but it avoided Earth. 9Daniel Lecoanet is a professor at Northwestern University in Illinois. He is one of the study's co-writers. He said better understanding of the sun can help make sure that "we are prepared for when the next storm - potentially much more dangerous - hits Earth." 10I'm Dan Novak. 11Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 12_____________________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14flare - n. to shine or burn suddenly and briefly 15display - n. an arrangement of objects intended to decorate, advertise, entertain, or inform people about something 16accurate - adj. free from mistakes or errors 17vary - v. to be different or to become different 18eruption - n. to send out rocks, ash, lava, etc., in a sudden explosion 19latitude - n. distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees up to 90 degrees 20shallow - adj. having a small distance to the bottom from the surface or highest point 21forecast - n. a statement about what you think is going to happen in the future 22potential - n. a chance or possibility that something will happen or exist in the future