Solar Wind
A stream of charged particles continuously emitted from the Sun's upper atmosphere.
Also: stellar wind
Definition
The solar wind is a continuous stream of charged particles—primarily electrons and protons—flowing outward from the Sun's corona at speeds of 400-800 km/s, filling the entire solar system. It shapes the magnetospheres of planets, causes auroras, and is responsible for blowing comet tails away from the Sun. Solar wind intensity varies with the solar cycle and can cause geomagnetic storms that disrupt satellites and power grids.
Example
“When a powerful solar flare sends an intensified burst of solar wind toward Earth, the charged particles interact with Earth's magnetic field and ionosphere, creating spectacular auroras visible far from the poles and potentially disrupting GPS and radio communications.”
Synonyms
- solar particle stream
- coronal wind
- heliospheric plasma flow
Images
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Related Terms
- Sun
- Magnetosphere
- Aurora
- Heliosphere