Why is earth not affected by solar wind
- how is solar wind created
- how is solar wind formed
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What is solar wind!
Solar wind speed
Solar wind: What is it and how does it affect Earth?
The solar wind is a continual stream of protons and electrons from the sun's outermost atmosphere — the corona.
These charged particles breeze through the solar system at speeds ranging from around 250 miles (400 kilometers) per second to 500 miles (800 km) per second, in a plasma state, according to the National Oceanic and Administration Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
When the solar wind reaches Earth it sends a flurry of charged particles into the magnetosphere and along Earth's magnetic field lines, towards the poles.
The interaction of these particles with Earth's atmosphere can produce glowing aurora displays above polar regions.
Related: How hot is the sun?
The existence of the solar wind was first proposed by pioneering astrophysicist Eugene Parker whose name graces NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission.
In 1957, Parker was working as an assistant professor at the University of Chicago when he realized the superheated corona of the sun should, in theory, emit charged pa
- how is solar wind generated
- how does solar wind create auroras