3D Simulation of the Sun: Turbulent Flows in Its Upper Layers
Scientists have created a 3D simulation of the Sun, focusing on the turbulent flows in its upper layers. The movement of solar plasma resembles a boiling cauldron or the chaotic swirls of a school of fish, as material rises to the surface or sinks deeper.
“Our simulations use what we call a realistic approach — this means incorporating everything currently known about solar plasma to replicate various phenomena observed by NASA’s space missions,” explained Irina Kitiashvili, a scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, who led the study.
Leveraging advanced computational power, the team managed for the first time to simulate fine structures in the subsurface layer, which are also observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
“Currently, we lack sufficient computational capacity to create realistic global models of the entire Sun due to its complexity,” noted Kitiashvili. “Instead, we model smaller regions or layers that reveal structures on the Sun’s surface and atmosphere — such as shock waves or tornado-like phenomena just a few miles across. These are far more detailed structures than any spacecraft can capture.”
Such simulations provide invaluable insights into the dynamics of the Sun, offering a glimpse into processes that fuel solar activity and influence space weather.
#science #space #sun
Scientists have created a 3D simulation of the Sun, focusing on the turbulent flows in its upper layers. The movement of solar plasma resembles a boiling cauldron or the chaotic swirls of a school of fish, as material rises to the surface or sinks deeper.
“Our simulations use what we call a realistic approach — this means incorporating everything currently known about solar plasma to replicate various phenomena observed by NASA’s space missions,” explained Irina Kitiashvili, a scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, who led the study.
Leveraging advanced computational power, the team managed for the first time to simulate fine structures in the subsurface layer, which are also observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
“Currently, we lack sufficient computational capacity to create realistic global models of the entire Sun due to its complexity,” noted Kitiashvili. “Instead, we model smaller regions or layers that reveal structures on the Sun’s surface and atmosphere — such as shock waves or tornado-like phenomena just a few miles across. These are far more detailed structures than any spacecraft can capture.”
Such simulations provide invaluable insights into the dynamics of the Sun, offering a glimpse into processes that fuel solar activity and influence space weather.
#science #space #sun