Sunspots Essay, Research Paper

Sunspots are dark spots on the sun. The

Inner area is the umbra. The outer and lighter area is the penumbra. They are also very

magnetic. They are darker because they are lower in

Temperature. The umbra is about 11,000mi. Around, the penumbra is about

Double that, but they are often larger than the earth. The number of

sunspots varies over a 11 year period in which the sun spots move from

the top and move their way downward. As they move downward the number

increases. They diminish as they spread to the 7th degree of the solar

equator. Sunspots have been known to stay as long as a few months, but

most usually stay a few weeks to only a few days. Sunspots form in

groups about 10 solar degrees apart. Sunspots are storms on the sun.

Electrcity from the storms equals what the U.S. will use in the next

million years. The last time the sun had the peak number of on it was

1991. The magnetic force in sunspots ca Çuse gases to shoot out of the sun about 200mph. It is

called a prominces. They usually last about 3 hours, but some last for a few weeks. Promineces

are about 100,000 mi. long and 3,000 mi. thick. sometimes sunspots cause fiery exploians called

flares. Flares last only minutes but have the power of 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 hydrogen bombs

and cause intense heat and radiation to hit earth. It can cause a blackout of communication,

and cause ships and airplanes magnetic compasses to spin wildly for a short time, and they

cause small particles to get in the magnetic fieldsin the north and south poles. As they come

through the atmoshere they make a multi-colored glow in the sky called auroras. In the north it

is called an aurora borealis or northern lights. In the south it is called an aurora australis

or southern lights. Sunspots affect the weather by