SUN’S CORONAL HEATING: UPSC Daily Important Topic | 22 May 2022

SUN’S CORONAL HEATING.

◇ Scientists have recently discovered tiny flashes of radio light emanating from all over the Sun,which they say could help in explaining the long-pending coronal heating problem.

◇ These radio lights or signals result from beams of electrons accelerated in the aftermath of a magnetic explosion on the Sun. Magnetic explosions have not been seen but these radio lights are the strongest evidence till date that the tiny magnetic explosions, originally referred to as ‘nanoflares’ can indeed be heating up the corona.

◇ The solar corona, the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, is composed of extreme high temperature gas, known as plasma, with temperatures reaching millions of degrees Celsius.

◇ The corona is usually hidden by the bright light of the Sun’s surface. That makes it difficult to see without using special instruments. However, the corona can be seen during a total solar eclipse.