What causes sunspots and prominences?
It is caused by cooler temperatures, due to the concentration of magnetic activity in the area. These areas where sunspots and solar flares happen have strong magnetic fields that can merge and release a lot of energy. This energy is in the form of protons and electrons, as well as X-ray and UV photons.
What is the cause of prominences?
Prominences are shaped by the Sun's complex magnetic field, often forming loops with each end "anchored" to the Sun's surface (photosphere). Prominences are enormous, extending for many thousands of kilometers (miles). Prominences can last for several days – or up to several months!
What causes sunspots quizlet?
What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun? Subsurface magnetic fields are twisted by the Sun's differential rotation and break through the surface as sunspots, then gradually cancel each other and return below the surface.
What force causes sunspots?
Sunspots are regions on the Sun's photosphere that appear darker than the surrounding areas on the visible solar disk due to reduced surface temperature associated with concentrations of magnetic field flux and intense magnetic activity on the Sun. They usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity.
What are sunspots solar flares and solar prominences?
Solar prominences are the plasma loops that connect two sunspots. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are eruptions of highly energetic particles that can erupt from the Sun's surface and cause problems with power grids and communications on Earth.
What are solar flares and prominences?
Most often these eruptions are in the form of loops and sheets called prominences, but there are other events which in a matter of minutes can release enormous amounts of energy and eject material out into space. Such violent events are called solar flares.
What are flares on the Sun?
Solar flares are huge explosions on the Sun. A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, typically lasting several minutes. Flares occur when intense magnetic fields on the Sun become too tangled.
What is a prominence on the Sun?
A solar prominence (also known as a filament when viewed against the solar disk) is a large, bright feature extending outward from the Sun's surface. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun's hot outer atmosphere, called the corona.
What is a solar flare quizlet?
A solar flare is a rapid variation in brightness seen on the sun. Solar Flare Pt. 2. It occurs when magnetic energy built up in the solar atmosphere is released in huge magnetic loops called solar prominences.
What are prominences?
A solar prominence (also known as a filament when viewed against the solar disk) is a large, bright feature extending outward from the Sun's surface. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun's hot outer atmosphere, called the corona.
How are solar flares formed?
A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, typically lasting several minutes. Flares occur when intense magnetic fields on the Sun become too tangled. Like a rubber band that snaps when it is twisted too far, the tangled magnetic fields release energy when they "snap".
Where do sunspots solar flares and prominences all occur?
Sunspots occur in pairs because each is one side of a loop of the Sun's magnetic field that reaches the Sun's surface. These spots are cooler and darker than the rest of the Sun's surface and they are marked by intense magnetic activity. Solar prominences are the plasma loops that connect two sunspots.
What are sunspots?
Sunspots are areas where the magnetic field is about 2,500 times stronger than Earth's, much higher than anywhere else on the Sun. Because of the strong magnetic field, the magnetic pressure increases while the surrounding atmospheric pressure decreases.
How solar flares are formed?
A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, typically lasting several minutes. Flares occur when intense magnetic fields on the Sun become too tangled. Like a rubber band that snaps when it is twisted too far, the tangled magnetic fields release energy when they "snap".
What is the difference between flares and prominence?
A prominence is anchored to the Sun's surface, unlike a flare, and is often characterized by a loop shape. A prominence is bound by the Sun's magnetic field and can last for months.
What produces solar flares?
Solar flares are a sudden explosion of energy caused by tangling, crossing or reorganizing of magnetic field lines near sunspots. The surface of the Sun is a very busy place. It has electrically charged gases that generate areas of powerful magnetic forces. These areas are called magnetic fields.
What causes solar flares quizlet?
A solar flare is a rapid variation in brightness seen on the sun. It occurs when magnetic energy built up in the solar atmosphere is released in huge magnetic loops called solar prominences.
How do solar flares form?
A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, typically lasting several minutes. Flares occur when intense magnetic fields on the Sun become too tangled. Like a rubber band that snaps when it is twisted too far, the tangled magnetic fields release energy when they "snap".
What is the difference between sunspots solar flares and prominences?
What is the difference between sunspots solar flares and prominences? Sunspots occur in pairs. Solar prominences are the plasma loops that connect two sunspots. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are eruptions of highly energetic particles from the Sun's surface.
What causes sunspots solar flares and coronal mass ejections quizlet?
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, high-speed solar wind, and solar energetic particles are all forms of solar activity. All solar activity is driven by the solar magnetic field. A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.
What is a solar flare or prominence quizlet?
Solar Prominence. A huge, reddish loop of gas that protrudes from the sun's surface, linking parts of sunspot regions. Solar Flare. A sudden brightness near a sunspot; explosion of gas from the Sun's surface. they can interrupt technology and satellites.