Readiness for the Upcoming Solar Maximum (1998) / Chapter Skim
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2 Scientific Background
2 Scientific Background
Pages 8-14
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From page 8... ...
Magnetic fields generated by the solar dynamo can only be directly observed at and above the visible surface where sunspots contain the strongest concentrations of field. The solar activity cycle was first noticed in changes of the number, pattern, and magnetic polanty of the sunspots over the average ~ I-year cycle.
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From page 9... ...
Most frequently at solar maximum, the interactions between the magnetic fields and the moving, ionized solar atmosphere can twist strong fields above sunspot groups into unstable configurations storing substantial amounts of energy. This energy can be suddenly released in solar flares, which temporanly enhance the solar radiant output at radio and x-ray wavelengths by several orders of magnitude.
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From page 10... ...
Radio waves emitted Tom He approaching shock front were detected on board the Wind spacecraft (as was the passage of the leading interplanetary shock and the trailing density pulse) , while the Polar spacecraft and other magnetospheric satellites and ground-based observatories measured the shock's effects on geospace.
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From page 11... ...
A second example relevant to the relationship between the Sun and Earth's climate concerns the possible role of the ionization state of Earth's atmosphere, which is known to affect its chemistry, its response to solar wind disturbances of the magnetosphere, arid other processes that depend on the presence of free charges. Although this state is mainly controlled by the solar W and EW flux responsible for the ionosphere proper, some deeper ionization is produced by solar x-rays, solar energetic protons, and galactic cosmic rays.
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From page 12... ...
4. An image of the Sun in He singly ionized helium emission line at 304 angstroms (HE II)
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From page 13... ...
:= MA 1 =n _ _I 1 __ __ _ at_ Hi_ _ _ ~ ~1 ~_ __ ~ _ I _ 1 _ _ _- ~ 1 ~ ~..
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From page 14... ...
, and altitude ranges affected are generally understood, the consequences are by no means yet known. Whereas the resulting electron density enhancements obviously affect our use of the ionosphere, there are known atmospheric chemistry effects (including stratospheric and mesosphenc ozone chemistry perturbations and suggestions of possible influences on high-altitude clouds)
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