What are solar wind and solar storms?
Every day, Earth experiences weather—wind, rain, and storms. In space, there is also weather, created by the Sun. Two key players in space weather are the solar wind and solar storms. The solar wind is a constant, ever-present flow of charged particles blasting outward from the Sun. Solar storms are dramatic, short-lived events that release huge clouds of plasma and magnetic fields toward the rest of the solar system. Understanding these phenomena helps scientists predict how space weather can affect our planet.
The Sun: a furnace that fuels space weather
At the center of our solar system sits the Sun, a gigantic ball of hot plasma. Plasmas are gases so hot that their atoms split into charged particles—positive nuclei and negative electrons. Because these particles are charged, they respond to magnetic fields and electrical forces in ways ordinary gases do not. The Sun’s surface burns at about 6,000 degrees Celsius, yet its atmosphere—the corona—soars to millions of degrees, a sign that the Sun’s outer layers are a roiling, magnetic cauldron.
The solar wind: the Sun’s steady gust
The corona continually hurls plasma into space, creating the solar wind. This wind fills a bubble around the solar system and travels at speeds up to several million kilometers per hour. If the solar wind were to circle Earth, it could reach in less than a minute. In practice, Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere keep most of these particles at bay, guiding and deflecting them to avoid harm.
How scientists measure the solar wind
Directly sampling the solar wind requires spacecraft venturing close to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe, a mission launched to study our star, flies through the solar wind and carries instruments that measure its properties in real time. Some instruments also observe sunlight that scatters off the solar wind, revealing its presence even when it isn’t visible in photographs.
Solar storms: dramatic eruptions that ride the wind
While the solar wind is a constant breeze, solar storms are explosive events. They begin with large, twisted magnetic fields on the Sun that release huge clouds of plasma into space. These ejections—called coronal mass ejections, or CMEs—travel outward and can collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, the protective magnetic bubble that surrounds our planet.
Space weather: Earth’s magnetic weather system
Our planet’s magnetic field and magnetosphere act like a shield against charged solar particles. When a CME’s magnetic field interacts with Earth’s field, it can momentarily link up with it, allowing solar plasma to seep into the upper atmosphere. This creates magnetic disturbances and can trigger beautiful auroras near the poles. But it can also disrupt power grids, satellite operations, GPS, and radio communications during strong events. The science of space weather helps engineers design resilient technologies and helps scientists forecast when and where these disturbances will occur.
The science and the surprises of space weather
Space weather is a growing field because it affects modern infrastructure we rely on daily. Predicting solar storms requires combining observations from telescopes, satellites, and specialized instruments on spacecraft that monitor magnetic fields, solar activity, and the flow of solar wind. In addition to studying dangers, scientists celebrate the spectacular side of space weather—the auroras. When charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they light up the sky with dancing curtains of color, a reminder that the Sun’s weather remains a driver of Earth’s near-space environment.
Why curiosity matters
Understanding solar wind and solar storms isn’t just about satisfying curiosity. It’s about protecting our technology, planning for missions beyond Earth, and learning how the Sun shapes the space around us. As scientists keep gathering data, they’ll improve forecasts and help communities prepare for space weather events—much as meteorologists forecast storms here on the ground.
