New method detects emerging sunspots deep inside the sun, provides warning of dangerous solar flares
Friday, August 19, 2011 - 14:30
in Astronomy & Space
Sunspots spawn solar flares that can cause billions of dollars in damage to satellites, communications networks and power grids. But researchers have now developed a way to detect incipient sunspots as deep as 65,000 kilometers inside the sun, providing up to two days' advance warning of a damaging solar flare.