Table of Contents
What are sunspots and why do they occur?
Sunspots occur because the sun isn’t a hunk of rock like the Earth and the inner planets, but a ball of continually circulating hot gases that doesn’t move in one piece. The interior and the exterior of the sun rotate separately; the outside rotates more quickly at the equator than at the solar north and south poles.
What effects do sunspots have on the Earth?
The increase of ultraviolet rays from sunspots affects the outer atmosphere of the Earth. Ultraviolet rays also can cause skin cancer and skin related illnesses. The effect of sunspots on the climate of planet Earth is thought to be very small.
What causes sunspots to be colder than the surrounding areas?
Sunspots are cooler because they’re areas of intense magnetism — so intense that it inhibits the flow of hot gases from the sun’s interior to its surface. Sunspots occur because the sun isn’t a hunk of rock like the Earth and the inner planets, but a ball of continually circulating hot gases that doesn’t move in one piece.
Can sunspots harm us?
The most violent events we can observe on the Sun are the huge explosions called solar flares. These occur in the same regions of the Sun as sunspots, but even so, sunspots, solar flares and all the other activity on the Sun can’t harm us directly.
How do sunspots affect the planet Earth?
With sunspots come an increase in ultraviolet rays that emit from the outer ring of the sunspots toward Earth. This increase in UV rays affects chemistry of the outer atmosphere and the energy balance of Earth. The idea that sunspots affect Earth’s climate is still largely debated, but it is believed that the increase of sunspots on the surface of the sun can reduce the amount of energy and light distributed to Earth.
What are the effects of sunspots on humans?
The evidence seems to show that during the maxima of sunspot activity human behavior is stimulated. There is some Russian research that shows an increase in cardiac problems during sunspot maxima. The solar activity probably sets off a preexisting condition and no one is suggesting that people will drop dead in the streets.
How do sunspots impact our weather?
The idea that sunspots affect Earth’s climate is still largely debated, but it is believed that the increase of sunspots on the surface of the sun can reduce the amount of energy and light distributed to Earth. This decrease in energy can result in colder weather and even “mini ice ages” on parts of Earth that are farther from the equator.