Scientists see solar outburst in exquisite detail
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - 12:00
in Astronomy & Space
(PhysOrg.com) -- The largest disturbances to the Earth's geomagnetic environment occur when it is buffeted by solar material hurled in our direction by explosive changes in the Sun's atmosphere. These Coronal Mass Ejections or CMEs contain approximately a billion tonnes of ionized gas or plasma and can have a dramatic and damaging impact on everything from satellites to power grids.