Solar Magnetic Flux Tubes

Solar Magnetic Flux Tubes are magnetic field concentrations near the surface of
the sun. Because of their close relation to their much larger cousins, sun
spots, they are of great interest to researchers. Volume visualization is used
here to study the formation and collapse of the flux tubes as they evolve over
time. Solar Magnetic Flux Tubes (MFT), also called "pores", are magnetic field
concentrations near the surface of the sun. They are caused by surrounding
convective motion which brings together small components of magnetic field.
There are three stages in the life of an MFT:

1. Formation, which takes from three to five minutes
2. Stable stage, which lasts tens of minutes
3. Collapse, or the move to an unstable state, which again takes tens of
minutes

Magnetic Flux Tubes and Sun Spots

Magnetic Flux Tubes are of interest because of their close relation to their
much larger cousins: Sunspots. By modeling MFT's it is hoped that more can be
learned about Sunspots.

Sunspots are much larger and longer lived. They are the single biggest
influence on the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth, and can have
tremendous impact on radio communications, and the thickness of the earth's
atmosphere.

When sunspots are active they cause heating in the upper atmosphere, which in
turn causes expansion. Skylab fell to earth prematurely in 1979 due to this
phenomenon when an unexpected Sun Spot flared up. The launch of the Hubble
telescope was delayed for a year because of Sunspot activity.