What Is Coronal Mass Ejection?
A giant cloud of magnetized gas blasted off the Sun. If it hits Earth one to four days later, it can cause geomagnetic storms and auroras. In technical terms: A large expulsion of plasma (about 1e12-1e13 kg) and magnetic field from the solar corona traveling at 250 to over 3000 km/s; Earth-directed CMEs arriving with strong southward Bz produce the most intense geomagnetic storms.
Also called: CME
Coronal Mass Ejection In Plain English
A giant cloud of magnetized gas blasted off the Sun. If it hits Earth one to four days later, it can cause geomagnetic storms and auroras.
The Technical Definition
A large expulsion of plasma (about 1e12-1e13 kg) and magnetic field from the solar corona traveling at 250 to over 3000 km/s; Earth-directed CMEs arriving with strong southward Bz produce the most intense geomagnetic storms.
Lessons That Use Coronal Mass Ejection
- The Sun, Solar Flares And CMEs Unit 15: Space Weather
