In a groundbreaking study led by an Indian astronomer, NASA has made a significant discovery regarding the extreme heat of the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. The findings of this study could have far-reaching implications on space weather and its impact on Earth.
Solar physicists have long been intrigued by the composition and behavior of the solar corona, which exhibits various features such as loops, streams, plumes, and ejections. However, the mystery of why the corona is over 100 times hotter than the layer below has puzzled scientists for over 25 years.
The study revealed that the solar corona contains moss-like patchy structures made of plasma, similar to algal moss found near water bodies. These structures, known as ‘moss,’ are formed under strong magnetic conditions around sunspot groups. The moss region, connected to the Sun’s lower atmosphere, can reach temperatures as high as 5.5 lakh degrees Celsius.
NASA scientists used data from the High Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) sounding rocket and Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) missions to decode the mechanism behind the superheating of the moss region. The study showed that electrical currents generated by intertwined magnetic field lines contribute to heating the material to extreme temperatures.
Souvik Bose, a research scientist involved in the study, explained that the tangling of magnetic fields in the moss region leads to the heating of the solar atmosphere through the dissipation of electrical currents. The team plans to further explore this phenomenon in future studies.
This groundbreaking research sheds light on the complex dynamics of the solar corona and opens up new possibilities for understanding the Sun’s influence on space weather and Earth’s activities. NASA’s continued exploration of the solar atmosphere promises to unveil more secrets of our closest star.