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BY NICK MITCHELL AND CADE HESS
The Suns Atmosphere, Surface Features, Solar Wind,
and Effects on the Earth
The Suns Atmosphere
The Suns Atmosphere is made up of three different layers.
The Photosphere, The Chromosphere, and the Corona
Each layer has its own unique properties
The Photosphere
The inner layer of the Suns Atmosphere is called The Photosphere
The sun does not have a solid surface, but the gases of the photosphere are thick enough to be visible.
When you look at a picture of the sun……
….you are looking at the Photosphere!
The Chromosphere
During a total Solar Eclipse, the moon blocks light from the Photosphere. The Photosphere no longer creates the glare that keeps you from seeing the sun’s outer layers. This glow comes from the middle layer of the sun’s atmosphere, the Chromosphere.
The Corona
During a Solar Eclipse, an even fainter layer of the sun becomes visible, as you can see in the picture.
This outer layer, which looks like a white halo around the sun, is called the Corona.
Corona means “ Crown” in Latin.The corona extends into space into space for millions of kilo- meters.
Features on the Sun
Features on the Sun or above the sun’s surface include sun spots, prominences, and solar flares.
Sun Spots are areas of gas on the suns surface that are cooler then the gases around them.
Cooler gases don’t give off as much light as hot gases, which is why sunspots look darker than the rest of the photosphere.
Prominences and Solar Flares
Huge Red Loops of gas called Prominences often link different areas of sunspots. When a group of sun spots is near the edge of the sun seen from earth, these loops can be seen over the edge of the sun.
Sometimes, loops in sunspot regions connect, turning magnetic energy into solar energy, heating the suns gas. These eruptions are called Solar Flares.
Solar Wind
Solar Flares can greatly increase the solar wind from the Corona, resulting an increase in the number of particles reaching Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Near the North and South Poles, the particles can enter earths atmosphere, where they create electric currents that make gas molecules in the atmosphere glow. The result is rippling sheets of light in the sky called Auroras.
SUMMARY
There are three layers of the Suns Atmosphere. The Photosphere, the Chromosphere, and the Corona. There are also other features of the suns atmosphere called sun spots, prominences, and solar flares. Solar Flares create solar wind, which can enter earths atmosphere to make auroras.
THE SUNS ATMOSPHERE QUIZ
1. What are the three layers of the Sun’s Atmosphere?
A) Sun Spots, Solar Flares, and Prominences B) Photosphere, Chromosphere, and Corona C) Solar Flares, Solar Wind, and Auroras D) Chromosphere, Photosphere, and Sun Spots
THE SUNS ATMOSPHERE QUIZ
2. When you look a picture of the sun, what layer of the sun are you looking at? A) Photosphere B) Chromosphere C) The Corona D) Sun Spots
THE SUNS ATMOSPHERE QUIZ
3.Why do Sun spots look darker than the rest of the Photosphere
A) They are hotter B) They do not product any heat C) Their cooler gas don’t give off as much light D) Their hotter gases don’t give off as much light
THE SUNS ATMOSPHERE QUIZ
4. Huge red loops of gas called _____ often link in different areas of Sun Spots.
A) Solar Flares B) Prominences C) Solar Wind D) Sun Spots
THE SUNS ATMOSPHERE QUIZ
5. Particles from Solar Wind can enter Earths Atmosphere, creating electric currents that make gas molecules in the atmosphere glow. What are these glowing sheets of light called?
A) Coronas B) Flares C) Wind D) Auroras
THE SUNS ATMOSPHERE QUIZ
Bonus: What does the word “ Corona” mean in Latin?
A) Castle B) Crown C) King D) Halo
