The Sun: Energy Source Star for Earth and its Impact on Space Weather

Bandung – BRIN Public Relations. Having a distance of about 150 million kilometers, the Sun is the closest star to Earth. As the center of the solar system, the Sun contributes the largest mass which makes it the center of gravity and dominates the movement of celestial bodies in the solar system. Solar radiation provides a source of light and heat especially for living creatures on Earth and is the main source of energy.

“Some of the sunlight enters Earth, is filtered by the atmosphere and then converted by plants through the process of photosynthesis. Then it becomes energy stored in plants. “It is a source of food for living creatures, humans, one of which has the energy to carry out activities,” said Johan Muhammad at the 100 Hour Astronomy for All Webinar, Tuesday (3/10).

Through a presentation entitled The Sun: Energy Source Star for Earth, this researcher from the Space Research Center (PRA)-BRIN said that apart from having a very big role in human life, the sun also has an impact through its activities on space weather.

He mentioned that there is a lot of solar activity such as flares, Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and radiation in all directions, so changes in conditions on the Sun can cause changes to all conditions in outer space, especially around planet Earth, or this is usually called space weather.

“Space conditions, especially around Earth, which are affected by solar activity are called space weather,” he said.

Johan said that solar activity has a negative effect on astronauts who live in space. According to him, this is because astronauts are outside the Earth’s atmosphere so solar radiation is not filtered, which is why they have to wear special clothing that can protect them from solar radiation.

Solar activity also influences satellites orbiting in space. Johan said, satellites in space receive the impact and influence of the Sun’s activity because they are outside the Earth’s magnetosphere layer, so they directly receive radiation and the courting of the Sun’s energetic particles which will result in damage and a decrease in the height or change in the satellite’s orbit.

“Apart from this direct influence, solar activity also disrupts conditions in the ionosphere. “One of them is interference with radio communications, navigation and electrical disturbances,” continued Johan.

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) through the Space Research Center developed Space Weather Information and Forecast Services or SWIFtS as a service that provides information on space weather conditions which can be accessed via the portal http://swifts.brin.go.id.

“Through this portal we can find out information about space weather conditions,” said Johan.

Understanding the Structure of the Sun

Observing the Sun must use tools that are equipped with special filters. The sun has various features. Johan said that solar activity can be known from continuous observations.

“Like other celestial bodies, the shape of the Sun is round like a ball. “The interior structure consists of a core, a radiation zone and a convection zone,” he continued.

The Associate Expert Researcher detailed that the core of the Sun is where nuclear reactions occur, namely the merging of Hydrogen atoms into Helium which produces enormous energy from the fusion process. According to him, this energy is so large that it can spread to all corners of the solar system. Then, he continued, the radiation zone is the zone that transmits energy from the core of the Sun. Meanwhile, the convection zone, said Johan, is a zone with a convective energy transfer process.

“From this convection zone, the energy released from the Sun’s core comes out into light because its density is no longer as large as the Sun’s interior. “This part is called the surface of the Sun or photosphere with a temperature of 4,200 degrees Celsius to 6,000 degrees Celsius,” he explained.

Johan said that the surface of the Sun has several phenomena such as sunspots, flares, coronal holes, prominences or filaments. Above the photosphere is the chromosphere or the lower part of the Sun’s atmosphere. Then there is the corona, which is the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere.

“Sunspots are black spots on the surface of the Sun because they have a lower temperature compared to the surrounding area. “Meanwhile flares are the phenomenon of surges in electromagnetic wave radiation originating from active areas of the Sun which are caused by the release of magnetic energy,” stressed Johan.

Meanwhile, Johan explained that the corona hole is a part of the corona that has an open magnetic field and a lower density than its surroundings. Meanwhile prominences or filaments are flames that stick out in the sun’s orbit as a result of the lifting of cooler material into the Sun’s atmosphere. (mg/ed: kg)

2023-10-05 02:11:07
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