Sun's Magnetic Field Switches Could Explain Solar Wind

Image Credit: nasa.gov

Scientific researchers, for the very first time, have found evidence that the sun quickly switches the direction of its magnetic field.

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The phenomenon was captured with the help of the Solar Orbiter probe developed by the European Space Agency and run in association with NASA.

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The research was conducted in the surrounding orbit of the sun back in 2020 and it spotted the anomaly in its magnetic field in March 2022.

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The research was conducted by covering the bright centre part of the sun to focus on its edges. Perplexing S-shaped curves were noticed coming out of the sun’s corona.

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According to scientists, these S-shaped curves point to the abrupt reversing of the sun’s magnetic field and is called a magnetic switchback.

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Earlier evidences of the ‘magnetic switchback’ given by Helios 1 & 2 and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe were indirect and hence inconclusive.

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This evidence can now help scientists understand the process by which pockets of solar winds move faster and get heated up even after being so far from the sun.

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