Solar Week - Ask a Question

During solar week you can post questions here for our scientists to answer.
   You do not need to register or sign in to post questions,
   just click on one of the forums below and click "Write a New Post".

   You may want to Meet the scientists who will be answering your questions.
   Check out our new blog and FAQs.
in

Solar Storms

Last post 03-19-2008 8:31 PM by David Alexander. 1 replies.
Page 1 of 1 (2 items)
Sort Posts: Previous Next
  • 03-19-2008 9:00 AM

    Solar Storms

    How much energy, heat, and power can a solar storm generate?       Dan H   (FWMS)

  • 03-19-2008 8:31 PM In reply to

    Re: Solar Storms

    Hello Dan,

     

    Roughly speaking all of the components of a solar storm have the same energy with an order of magnitude or two.  The thermal part of a solar flare contains about 10^22 Joules, the energy in accelerated electrons is 10^21 to 10^25 Joules, the energy in the accelerated protons is about 10^21 to 10^25 Joules, and the kinetic energy of the coronal mass ejection is also about 10^24 Joules.

     As a reference, the power consumption of the United States in a whole year is about 10^20 Joules.  So the energy released in a large solar storm is about 100,000 year worth of power for the US.

     

    Cheers - David 

Page 1 of 1 (2 items)

Theme design is SolarWeek by Igor Ruderman based on
Theme Mira 2007 by Chris Lotter.

Powered by Community Server (Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems