Sun ID: 12550

Rossby Waves on the Sun Could Aid in Space Weather Prediction

Released on March 30, 2017

To predict weather on a planet, we look at Rossby waves, large movement patterns in the atmosphere, like the jet stream. Just as on Earth, the conditions on the sun are constantly changing. This is why scientists were excited to discover Rossby waves on the sun.

On the sun, the waves are driven by magnetic currents below the surface. Monitoring these waves and the disturbances they generate could help us make better long-term space weather predictions.

Solar Rossby wave imagery of courtsey of Scott W. McIntosh, NCAR/HAO

Credits

Mara Johnson-Groh (Wyle Information Systems): Lead Writer
Genna Duberstein (USRA): Lead Producer
Scott W. McIntosh (UCAR): Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12550

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Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Space Weather
NASA Science >> Sun
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Waves >> Rossby/planetary Waves

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0