3
Detailed
structure of the outer photosphere
•CONVECTION:
–Granulation and Supergranulation
–Heat carried by actual motion of gas
–Different than radiative transport
•energy carried by photons
•dominates deeper in sun
•SUNSPOTS
–Darker (and cooler) regions of sun
–Strong magnetic fields limit
convection
–Come and go in 11 (really 22) year
cycle
–Magnetic energy releases cause
“flares”
–Material ejected causes aurora
From our text: Horizons, by Seeds