Sun Activity

Sunspots

Prominences

Solar flares

Solar wind

Areas of gas on the Sun's surface that are cooler than the gases around them

Cooler gases don't give off as much light

Can be larger than the Earth

The # of sunspots varies in a regular cycle, with the most appearing about once every 11 years

Affects on Earth: Auroras, disruptions in power, radio, and satellites

Huge loops of gas that often link different parts of sunspot regions

These loops of gas are anchored to the photosphere and extend to the corona

Can last for months

Can disrupt navigation systems, surges/blackouts in electrical systems, damage/disrupt satellites

A release of magnetic energy that heats gas in the Sun's atmosphere and causes an eruption into space

Typically lasts for a few minutes

Can cause the loss of power and satellite

Streams of electrical particles from the Sun

Solar flares can increase the amount of particles

Earth's magnetic field blocks the majority of solar winds except on the North and South Poles

At the poles, the particles create electric currents that cause gas in the atmosphere to glow (Northern Lights/Southern Lights)

Worst case scenarios: too many particles entering the atmosphere can cause magnetic storms and blackouts