"The solar magnetic field is the primary driver of solar storms, which can pose threats to power grids, communication systems, and in-space technologies like GPS," officials at NCAR stated.
"This research is helping us fill a crucial gap in our understanding of coronal magnetic fields, which are the source of the energy for storms that can impact Earth," said NCAR postdoctoral fellow Zihao Yang.
The team decided to create a three-dimensional look at this region. "The third dimension of the magnetic field, oriented along a viewer's line of sight, is of particular importance for understanding how the corona is energized," the researchers explained.
The observations are a great leg-up from the irregular measurements taken in the past, potentially providing a clearer picture of the Sun's upcoming activity peak next summer.
Collection
[
|
...
]