Scientists discover mechanism that could feed solar explosions
Friday, April 15, 2011 - 11:01
in Astronomy & Space
(PhysOrg.com) -- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are violent solar explosions that can propel up to 10 billion tons of the Suns atmosphere at a million miles an hour out through the corona and into space. These fast, powerful ejections can take as little as 18 hours to reach Earth and give rise to geomagnetic storms, which can disrupt radio transmissions, induce large currents in power lines and oil pipelines, seriously disrupt spacecraft and be extremely hazardous to astronauts. New instruments on advanced spacecraft have provided fresh insight into these cataclysmic phenomena, and illuminated a path toward predicting space weather.