Nicosia: The new observations of the Sun and the solar wind are extremely valuable tools for understanding the complex mechanisms that directly affect our planet Earth, as well as all the planets in our solar system, Dr Georgios Nicolaou, Lecturer in Space Plasma Physics at University College London (UCL), told CNA. Very recently, he said, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe provided us with detailed images of the solar wind at a distance closer to the Sun than we have ever seen before.
According to Cyprus News Agency, in an interview with CNA, Dr Nicolaou noted that at the same time, Solar Orbiter, a European Space Agency mission with contribution from NASA, is observing the surface of the Sun, offering unique images of the poles of our star, areas that have never been photographed before. ‘These new observations are extremely important tools for understanding the complex mechanisms of the Sun and the solar wind, which directly affect our Earth and all the planets of our solar system,’ he stressed.
Dr. Nicolaou explained that the solar wind is made up of charged particles-mainly protons and electrons-that continuously flow from the Sun into space. The properties of the solar wind, he said, vary, and for decades, scientists have been working to understand the sources of its various structures and the physical mechanisms that govern its evolution through space. ‘In addition to the steady flow of the solar wind, there are times when dynamic solar events occur, suddenly releasing large amounts of high-speed solar material from the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona). These events, like the Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), carry vast amounts of energy, traveling through space at speeds that can exceed 1,500 kilometers per second,’ Dr. Nicolaou noted.
Asked about the importance of studying the Sun and the solar wind, he said that in general, this research is essential for understanding many physical processes in the universe. Moreover, he added, space research has led to technological developments that have been applied in various other fields. As an example, he mentioned that some medical devices are based on instruments initially developed for satellites. Dr Nicolaou also noted that the Earth is constantly bombarded by the solar wind and all of its dynamic structures that are directed toward us. ‘The magnetized solar material interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, so sudden changes in solar activity can significantly disrupt it. This can sometimes have enormous impacts on the space environment around Earth, and even at ground level.’
He told CNA that a major solar event can put satellite systems, telecommunications infrastructure, power grids-and even human health-at risk. Dr. Nicolaou added that the field of research that studies solar activity and its impacts on Earth is called space weather, and it is of vital importance.
Asked about the significance of recent observations of the Parker Solar Probe, he said that the Parker Solar Probe’s ability to observe the solar wind very close to the Sun allows scientists to study solar material in the early stages of its formation. ‘The recent images from Parker Solar Probe are therefore an important tool for scientists to uncover the mechanisms of the formation of the solar wind and its various structures, as well as their evolution in space.’ These images, he continued, show the interaction of successive Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). Dr. Nicolaou told CNA that with these observations, scientists will try to solve the mystery behind the merging of such magnetized structures, which play a significant role in space weather.
When asked about the importance of recent observations from Solar Orbiter, he explained that thanks to its special orbit, the cameras of the spacecraft captured images of the Sun’s south pole for the first time. ‘Its instruments recorded the motion of material at the pole’s surface, as well as the complexity of the magnetic field. Solar Orbiter, while observing the surface of the Sun, can simultaneously analyze the solar wind that passes by the spacecraft.’ Therefore, Dr. Nicolaou pointed out that with the right analytical methods, scientists can correlate the properties of the solar wind with the characteristics of its sources on the Sun’s surface. ‘Continuous observations of the Sun’s surface and of the solar wind are essential for understanding solar activity and its dynamic changes,’ he said.
Dr. Nicolaou said that hundreds of scientific papers have already been published by researchers around the world using data from Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter. In fact, he added, that some of these studies combine observations of the same phenomenon from both spacecraft. ‘Now, with the new images from the two missions, a whole new avenue of research is opening. As the missions continue to provide data, more studies will emerge, offering deeper insight into the currently unresolved mysteries of the Sun,’ Dr. Nicolaou concluded.