Data from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload on board India’s Aditya-L1 solar observatory has revealed that coronal mass ejections (CMEs) do not expand as simple, symmetric bubbles, according to a study by scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Researchers analyzed a solar eruption that occurred on August 5, 2024, combining VELC spectroscopic data with complementary observations from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft and 3D modeling. The study demonstrated for the first time that the CME underwent non-uniform expansion and developed an asymmetric shape in the inner corona.
The Ministry of Science & Technology stated that understanding early CME asymmetry is important for space-weather studies. Asymmetric expansion affects how solar eruptions interact with solar wind, influencing their speed, trajectory, and arrival time at Earth, which can impact satellites and communication networks.
What it means
- Asymmetric expansion alters a solar eruption's speed and arrival time at Earth.
- Variations in CME expansion can cause space-weather disturbances as the eruption travels toward Earth.
Source
Press Information Bureau, Government of India, “VELC on board Aditya-L1 reveals asymmetric expansion of solar eruption that could impact space weather”. Read the original release.
Summary of an official release for general information only. Not investment advice. Read the original source before acting on any information.
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