Solar Coronal Holes

A new study by Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) accurately estimates the thermal and magnetic field structures of solar coronal holes.

• About: Dark areas in the solar corona in extreme ultraviolet (EUV). They appear dark because they are cooler, less dense regions than the surrounding plasma and are regions.  These are regions on the sun’s surface from where fast solar wind gushes out into space.
• Characteristics of Coronal Holes: They are more common and persistent during the years around solar minimum and can last between a few weeks to months.
• Impact on Earth: Can cause geomagnetic storms and disturbances in the Earth’s ionosphere, affecting radio communication.

o Study suggests radiative effects of coronal holes influence the Indian monsoon rainfall, in addition to sunspots.

• Thermal and Magnetic Field Analysis: Temperature estimation helps understand their depths of origin in the deep solar interior.

o Radiative flux and energy estimation help assess their impact on the interplanetary space.