Question

For astronomy class, please answer this question comprehensively thank you.

We have detected a sudden minor increase in the solar wind from the Sun. The density and speed of material headed towards Earth has increased at a slow rate. Shortly before this satellites in orbit of the Sun noted a large loop of material arcing from the surface of the Sun which then fell back onto the Sun. Identify and explain what type of solar event has just been described. Are the dangers from this solar event more likely to damage satellites, ground-based power grids, and/or unprotected astronauts.

Answer 1

The solar event just mentioned is a solar prominence. A prominence is a large, bright, gaseous feature extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in a loop shape. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun's corona. While the corona consists of extremely hot ionized gases, known as plasma, which do not emit much visible light, prominences contain much cooler plasma, similar in composition to that of the chromosphere. The prominence plasma is typically a hundred times more luminous and denser than the coronal plasma.

Their most common effect is on radar, long-range radio and communications satellites. They can scramble radio signals, and if powerful enough than it can affect ground satellites ,communication systems and power grids. The most danger is obviously to unprotected astronauts due to radiation spewing and literally, heat if found close enough to them, but it's mostly radiation that can cause all kinds of dangers including the least of which is genetic mutation.