Sun  ID: 550

Solar Dynamo

Visualizations by Fausto Cattaneo Released on January 21, 1999
A dynamo is a mechanism for a star or planet to create magnetic field. One type of solar dynamo is turbulent convection, which researchers have simulated on a supercomputer. Like soup boiling on a stove, gas at the Sun's surface is heated from the bottom and cooled at the top. Since the gas conducts electricity, these motions produce magnetic fields.
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An animation of turbulent convection on the surface of the Sun, where brighter colors trace rising hot regions and darker colors trace sinking cool regions (gas motion).
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Magnetic field movement caused by gas motion.
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Video slate image reads, "Solar Dynamo
A A dynamo is a mechanism for a star or planet to create magnetic field. One reason scientists are interested in the Sun's magnetic field is because it accelerates highly energetic particles that can knock out satellites and power distribution stations upon reaching Earth's atmosphere."

Visualization Credits

Fausto Cattaneo (University of Chicago): Lead Animator
Fausto Cattaneo (University of Chicago): Scientist
Anshu Dubey (University of Chicago): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
Fausto Cattaneo, University of Chicago

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/550

Mission:
TRACE

This item is part of this series:
Images of Earth and Space

Keywords:
SVS >> Dynamo
DLESE >> Space science
SVS >> TRACE
NASA Science >> Sun