Space tornado

In April 2009, THEMIS satellites helped examine how space tornadoes create the aurora phenomena.

A space tornado is solar windstorm and is exponentially larger and more powerful than conventional tornadoes on Earth.[1] They are also thought to produce the aurora borealis phenomenon.[2]

Tornadoes on Earth are formed by the atmosphere and sometimes having precipitation, while space tornadoes are formed by magnetic fields and with plasma.

Characteristics

Space tornadoes are made up of plasmas, consisting of extremely hot ionized gases that rotate at extremely high speeds, some recorded at over 1,000,000 miles per hour (1,600,000 km/h).[2] Within its funnel, they also generate strong electrical currents of about 100,000 amperes.[1] Power transformers and other man made constructs are susceptible to damage from space tornadoes[3]

Discovery

Main article: THEMIS

Much of what is understood about space tornadoes was obtained through a NASA mission called Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS), which deployed several probes to measure the strength of the electrical currents, size, and velocity of the rotating plasma.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ravilious, Kate (24 April 2009). "Giant "Space Tornadoes" Spark Auroras on Earth". National Geographic News. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 ""Space tornadoes" cause Northern Lights, claim scientists". Sindh Today. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "04.23.2009 - THEMIS mission tracks electrical tornadoes in space". www.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  4. ↑ "Space tornadoes drive Earthly auroras". COSMOS. Cosmos Media Ltd. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2013.


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