The Sun and Its Features Essay -- Science Essays Scientific

The Sun and Its FeaturesChanges in the magnetised field of the fair weather affect us here on earth in a number of interesting ways. This charismatic field is caused by the flow of electrically charged ions and electrons on the cheerfulness, and if it didnt exist, the sun would be a much much boring star. The 11-year cycle of the suns magnetised field accounts for many of the peaceful features of the sun sunspots, solar fl ares, and aurora borealis. At the beginning of the cycle, the magnetic field is spineless and there are very few sunspots later, at the peak of the cycle, the magnetic field is strong, and there are many sunspots. Sunspots are relatively cool areas that appear as dark patches on the face of the sun. They occur where magnetic field lines are twisted below the surface. The period of time when the magnetic field is strong and there are many sunspots is called a solar maximum. The sun approached one of its solar maximums in the year 2000, and this maximum unnat ural the conditions on earth. For example, the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights we see in the slope are much brighter during a solar maximum. They are also more(prenominal) spread out over the sky. In normal years the northern lights can only be seen over the poles, but during a solar maximum they are visible to much of the northern United States and Europe. morning borealis is caused by the solar wind that blows off the corona of the sun. The temperature of the corona is so high that the gravity of the sun cannot hold on to it, so ardent charged particles from the corona regularly fly off the sun at millions of miles per hour. When these particles collide with atoms in the earths atmosphere, they excite their electrons, causing them to jump to a higher(prenominal) energy level. When electrons jump to a h... ...solar maximum), less cosmic rays strike the earth, and when it is washy (during a solar minimum), many cosmic rays strike the earth. Trees record in their rings how much carbon 14 is in the atmosphere, and during the Maunder negligible tree rings had very high levels of Carbon 14. Thus, there seems to be a link between the sunspot cycle and the climate of the earth, with solar minimum bringing cooler temperatures and solar maximum bringing hummer ones. This, plus the beautiful displays of northern lights, and the threatening danger of solar flares, are just three ways we are effected by the solar cycle of the sun. ReferencesSolar Physics. Hathaway, David H. NASA. March 17, 2000. Sunspots as Predictors. Younce, Matthew Wiley. The Sun-Earth Connection. NASA/GSFC. USB/S Introducing the Aurora. Terry, Kathee and Anderson, Hugh. July 12, 1999.