An international team of scientists, including Tatyana Podladchikova from Skoltech, has made a significant discovery about the role of coronal holes in generating high-speed solar wind. Coronal holes are large magnetic openings in the Sun's corona that allow solar wind to escape into space.
By analyzing data from STEREO space probes and Earth-based observations, the scientists developed a computer model that illustrates how coronal holes produce charged particles that spread throughout the solar system. The research correlates wind characteristics with the position of coronal holes on the Sun's surface. The study's findings were published in Scientific Reports, Nature.
This discovery enables more accurate predictions of space weather events, which is crucial for the Vigil observatory launch in 2031. Vigil will monitor the Sun to protect Earth's infrastructure from solar storms, providing early warnings of potential disruptions to satellites, aviation, and power grids. The Vigil mission is planned to launch in 2031.