In a significant breakthrough, scientists are getting closer to understanding the sun’s ‘campfire’ flares, which could potentially unveil the secrets of the Sun’s coronal heating. Campfires, the diminutive flickers of ultraviolet light, were discovered in 2020 by the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter probe, which captured close-up photos of our parent star.
Shedding Light on Coronal Heating
These tiny flares, which are much smaller than the solar flares we’re familiar with, may hold the key to understanding the long-standing mystery of why the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. This phenomenon, called coronal heating, has puzzled scientists for decades, and the discovery of campfires could provide crucial insights.
Probing the Sun’s Magnetic Secrets
Researchers believe that the complex and dynamic magnetic fields on the Sun’s surface play a crucial role in the heating of the corona. The campfires are thought to be the result of the constant breaking and reconnecting of these magnetic field lines, which release energy in the form of heat and light.
By studying the characteristics and behavior of these campfires, scientists hope to unravel the intricate mechanisms behind coronal heating, ultimately leading to a better understanding of the Sun’s magnetic activity and its impact on the Earth’s environment.