Magnetic snaps power 93% of corona's heat, debunking energy loss mystery

Why in news

Astrophysicists using data from India's Aditya-L1 mission discovered that magnetic snaps power 93% of the solar corona's heat, solving a long-standing energy loss mystery.

Background

A team led by Prof R Ramesh of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics published findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The study reveals that magnetic field lines snapping and reconnecting provide 93% of the corona's energy, while bubbling motions contribute only 7%.

Facts for Prelims

• S&TAditya-L1: India's first dedicated space-based observatory to study the Sun.
• FactMagnetic snaps and reconnection account for 93% of the solar corona's heat.
• S&TSolar Corona: The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, which remains millions of degrees hotter than the surface.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the significance of India's Aditya-L1 mission in advancing solar physics and its implications for understanding space weather and its impact on Earth.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

• scientific advancement
• space weather monitoring
• technological self-reliance

Keywords: Solar Physics · Aditya-L1 · Magnetic Reconnection · Space Weather · Astrophysics

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