Sun Weather & the effect on Earth

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Every day we wake up to the sunrise, and we chart our method of tracking time based on the earth’s rotation around our large solar neighbour. But what are some unknown effects the sun has on our earth?

Scientist have made a new discovery regarding the magnetic field of the sun – apparently it behaves much like the earth’s own “Rossby-waves”. Using data gathered in a special mission to see the centre of our solar system from three directions, a team at NASA was able to track a pattern of magnetic waves that influence the weather patterns on the surface of the sun. These patterns largely determine our own space weather, and can directly influence a change in our own Rossby waves.

But what are Rossby waves and why is it important to understand their effect on earth? Essentially they are the long term variation in our atmosphere caused by the rotation of the planet. They influence everything from the jetstream to El Nino and other large weather phenomena.

But what does this have to do with the sun?  Well, its weather pattern may directly influence our own.  Scientists have long hypothesized that events like coronal holes in the sun’s atmosphere can directly influence our own atmosphere.  Here is a picture of a coronal hole and how it might influence the atmospheric conditions on earth.  So essentially the sun emits a kind of cold wind through space and this can change our weather on earth.

Have you ever considered what effect space and other planets have on the weather on earth?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.