"S" Marks The Spot For Solar Activity
News story originally written on March 10, 1999
Scientists have observed a phenomenon that may help them forecast
coronal mass ejections. CME's can disrupt
communications and damage satellites as well as cause problems with
electrical power grids.
"We have found a strong correlation between an S-shaped pattern on the
Sun, called a sigmoid, and the likelihood that an ejection will occur from
that region within days," said Dr. Alphonse Sterling of the Institute of
Space and Astronautical Science in Japan. "Each sigmoid is like a loaded
gun that we now know has a high probability of going off."
The sigmoids are most likely caused my twists in the solar
magnetic field.
Scientists believe that CME's get their energy from the
Sun's magnetic field.
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