Spectacular solar eruption 7 june 2011

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the solar eruption that occurred on June 7, 2011, particularly focusing on coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their implications for Earth. Participants explore the nature of the event, its potential effects on technology and power systems, and the scientific understanding of solar phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the potential impact of CMEs on human technology, referencing historical events like the Carrington Event of 1859.
  • There is speculation about the readiness of infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants and electrical transformers, in the event of significant solar activity.
  • Questions arise regarding the detection of solar events occurring on the far side of the sun, with some participants noting that monitoring occurs continuously.
  • One participant argues that the media may exaggerate the significance of solar events, suggesting that the June 7 eruption was minor compared to potential future eruptions.
  • Another participant shares a NASA perspective on the uniqueness of the June 7 eruption, highlighting the scientific interest in understanding the mechanisms behind solar phenomena, such as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.
  • Various hypotheses about the heating of the solar corona are mentioned, including spicules, magnetic reconnection, and Alfven Waves, indicating ongoing scientific exploration and debate.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of agreement and disagreement. While there is a shared interest in the implications of CMEs, opinions diverge on the significance of the June 7 event and the media's portrayal of solar activity. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the broader implications and understanding of solar phenomena.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the manufacturing status of electrical transformers in the USA and the specific details of solar eruptions, such as their altitude and detection capabilities. There is also a lack of consensus on the implications of the June 7 eruption compared to historical events.

AntonL
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Another Look at a Spectacular Event Now with SDO and LASCO


The CMS is expected to make a glancing blow late 8 June/ early 9 June
Some newspapers are predicting GPS disturbance and black-outs
 
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Thanks for this post, Anton.

I'm very interested in CME's. For one thing, they are one of the few astronomy events that can have an immediate and important affect on humans. I've recently read the fascinating book, The Sun Kings: The Unexpected Tragedy of Richard Carrington and the Tale of How Modern Astronomy Began, by Stuart Clark, Princeton University Press, 2007.

One of these years, there will come another CME equivalent to the Carrington Event of 1859, and it will have serious consequences following on from widespread power outages. Let's hope nuclear power plants are ready for this, and also hope that any damaged electrical transformers can be replaced in a short period of time. I'm not sure if transformers are still being manufactured in the USA. Anybody know?

Respectfully submitted,
Steve
 
AntonL said:
The CMS is expected to make a glancing blow late 8 June/ early 9 June
Some newspapers are predicting GPS disturbance and black-outs

The news reports I've heard seem disinterested - aside from precautions at the space station?
 
Does anyone have any idea how low that whole thing took? I looked in the videos but there didn't seem to be any indication.
 
Does anyone know if we're able to detect similar events that occur on the side of the sun -opposite our position?
 
WhoWee said:
Does anyone know if we're able to detect similar events that occur on the side of the sun -opposite our position?
front and back of the sun is monitored 24/7
http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/
STEREO-Will-Provide-First-Full-View-of-the-Sun-Ever-2.jpg
 
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and to put it all in contex ... this was just a small throat clearing of the sun !
as usual blown out of proportion by the media.

A M2.5 flare is just a baby... wait till the monster X class flares start firing up again

cheers
Dave
 
AntonL said:
front and back of the sun is monitored 24/7

Thanks for the link AntonL
 
It turns out that somebody, namely NASA, thought the solar eruption of June 7, 2011 to be a unique and exciting event.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2011/06/massive-plasma-waves-sweep-the-sun-nasa-were-seeing-things-weve-never-seen-before-.html

"A huge storm on the sun this past week unleashed what some have called the most massive eruption of solar plasma ever seen. NASA astronomers said the huge June 7 solar eruption, called a coronal mass ejection, probably wasn't the biggest ever, but it is notable both for its size and its odd behavior, as massive waves of plasma roared off the sun only to rain back down on the solar surface.

"We're seeing things we've never seen before," said Phillip Chamberlin, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center and a deputy project scientist on the agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. "It's a really exciting event. There are a lot of exceptions to it."

Since scientists know how these waves initiated by a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability they can use this information to help solve an enduring mystery of why the corona is thousands of times hotter than originally expected."

It's very entertaining that ever newer explanations are forthcoming for why the corona is so hot. I've heard of spicules, magnetic reconnection, Alfven Waves, and now the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability as possibilities. Here's a quick peek at the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.

http://www.fifedrum.org/rhinohug/GFD/GFD_PAGE.html

Vorticity and instabilities are observed to occur in ocean waves, waves in atmospheres, and now waves in the solar plasma. Eventually I expect NASA's various missions to work out the explanations for the interesting questions of the solar corona and solar wind. As a taxpayer, I'm rather proud of the work they are doing. Once the puzzle is solved, it'll apply to probably most other stars, so it seems to be a good goal to work on.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve
 
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