Imagine if scientists gave you even more advance warning before your chance to see the super-powerful aurora.
Researchers at Aberystwyth University in Wales say they’ve found a way to do just that, by predicting speeds more accurately. Coronal mass ejection Sun
“Our study not only improves our understanding of the Sun’s explosive behavior, but also greatly improves our predictive capabilities. Space Weather press release
CMEs are powerful eruptions that send giant clouds of solar plasma hurtling through space at speeds of millions of miles per hour, and they can gain momentum as they hurtle toward Earth. Aurora Not only do they cause phenomena like the aurora borealis and the southern lights, but they also disrupt satellites, power grids and communications systems.
Gandhi and her team Sunspots
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“We can determine this critical altitude by measuring how the strength of the magnetic field decreases with altitude. This data can be used along with a geometric model, which is used to track the true speed of a CME in three dimensions rather than the two that are essential for accurate predictions,” Gandhi said. “The results of our study reveal that there is a strong relationship between the critical altitude at CME onset and the true speed of the CME. This insight allows us to predict the speed of a CME and, consequently, its time of arrival at Earth.” Earth
A better understanding of how fast a CME travels will allow scientists to make more accurate predictions and increase the lead time it takes for the plasma cloud to reach Earth. Quite difficult
“Understanding and using critical altitudes in forecasting will improve our ability to warn of approaching CMEs and help protect technology essential to modern life,” Gandhi said.
The research team published the results of their research. Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomical Congress
