Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences Colloquium

Monday, April 25, 2016 at 4:00 PM

JILA Auditorium

Holly Gilbert, NASA Goddard

"Solar prominences: bringing space-based and ground-based observations together"

A Pretty Image from the Talk

Abstract:

Solar prominences are large impressive loop-like structures suspended above the solar surface that provide a glimpse into the magnetic environment that supports them. Although these structures have been studied for decades, scientists still struggle to fully understand every aspect of their lifecycle: formation, dynamic behavior during existence, and eruption. After existing for days or weeks, prominences exhibit a range of eruptive-like dynamic activity, ranging from the full or partial eruption of the partially ionized mass and surrounding magnetic structure as a coronal mass ejection (CME), to a fully confined dynamic evolution or 'failed' eruption. There is a wealth of data and sophisticated modeling that has allowed scientists to investigate the magnetic nature of prominences and their connection with other dynamic activity in the surrounding atmosphere (e.g., CMEs). I'll discuss the prominence lifecycle and how the synergy between space-based and ground-based observations is driving prominence research.

 

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