Spectacular images reveal never-before-seen whirlpools on the sun
Strange whirlpools of plasma seen in the sharpest images ever captured of our star help explain the deep origins of Earth-threatening space weather and more
A team of international scientists has captured the sharpest images ever taken of the sun's surface, revealing never-before-seen whirlpools of plasma. These striking formations, ranging in size from 20 to 200 kilometers across, are created by a process known as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). KHI occurs when two fluids move past each other at different speeds, creating shear at the boundary and forming vortices that resemble ocean waves.
The study, published in Nature, validates these whirlpools with computer simulations, which accurately replicate the dynamics of the observed KHI vortices. The findings help explain the origins of space weather events that could threaten Earth's technology, such as spacecraft, power grids, and global telecommunications. The images also provide insights into how magnetic fields in the sun's photosphere mix and evolve, contributing to the 11-year cycle of solar activity.
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