International team of solar has measured the global magnetic field of the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, for the very first time.
The team used a technique known as coronal seismology or magneto seismology to measure the coronal magnetic field which has been known for a few decades.
This method requires the measurement of the properties of magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) waves and the density of the corona simultaneously.
The team used the improved measurements of the Coronal Multi-channel Polari meter (CoMP) and advanced data analysis to measure the coronal magnetic field.
CoMP is an instrument operated by High Altitude Observatory, of the U.S.
It is very important to measure the corneal magnetic fields regularly since the solar corona is highly dynamic and varies within seconds to a minute time scale.
Mechanisms of Eruptions of the Sun - Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are driven by magnetic reconnections happening in the Sun’s corona.
Magnetic reconnection is a process where oppositely polarity magnetic field lines connect and some of the magnetic energy is converted to heat energy and also kinetic energy which leads to the generation of heating, solar flares, solar jets, etc.
India’s Contribution - India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1 satellite will aim to measure the solar coronal magnetic fields regularly.
This will help understand the spectacular solar eruptions and predictions of space weather and many more things.