Scientists have uncovered a hidden connection between the Sun's inner layers and its outer atmosphere. This discovery could greatly improve forecasts of space weather, which can disrupt satellites, communication systems, and power grids on Earth. The new research shows that the Sun's upper atmosphere is not isolated. Instead, it holds information about movements happening deep inside the star.[tribuneindia+2]
Unraveling the Sun's Hidden Conveyor Belt
A team of researchers, including scientists from India and NASA, made this important finding. The collaborative study was led by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in India. It also involved experts from the Physical Research Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.[tribuneindia+2]
For many decades, scientists knew about a slow but steady flow of hot gas, or plasma, within the Sun. This flow, called the meridional flow, moves plasma from the Sun's equator towards its poles. It acts like a giant conveyor belt, helping to move the Sun's magnetic fields across its surface. This process is crucial for the Sun's 11-year solar cycle, which affects sunspots and other solar activity.[tribuneindia+2]
However, this flow had only been seen in the Sun's lower atmospheric layers until now. The new study provides the first clear evidence that this poleward flow extends much higher. It reaches nearly 3,000 kilometers above the Sun's visible surface into a region known as the upper chromosphere.[tribuneindia+2]
The research team analyzed 27 years of radio observations. They used data gathered by the Nobeyama Radioheliograph in Japan. To do this, they developed a special image-correlation technique. This method allowed them to compare thousands of full-disk radio images of the Sun taken one day apart. By measuring tiny shifts in brightness patterns over almost three decades, they mapped the large-scale movement of materials in the Sun's atmosphere with high precision.[tribuneindia+2]
Supporting the Magnetic Tree Idea
This discovery strongly supports a long-standing idea called the "magnetic tree" hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that magnetic structures reaching high above the Sun's surface are connected to deeper layers. It is much like how the branches of a tree remain connected to its trunk and roots.[tribuneindia+2]
The findings offer new insights into how magnetic fields and plasma interact throughout the solar atmosphere. This interaction is especially important at these higher altitudes, where the Sun's magnetic field heavily influences plasma movement.[tribuneindia+2]
The Ministry of Science and Technology stated that this research gives scientists a powerful new way to study the solar dynamo. The solar dynamo is the process that creates the Sun's magnetic field and powers its activity cycle. Understanding how plasma and magnetic fields move through the Sun is vital because these processes drive solar activity and influence solar storms.[tribuneindia+1]
The Threat of Space Weather
Space weather refers to changing conditions in space caused by the Sun. These events include solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and energetic particles. When these phenomena reach Earth, they can have serious consequences for our technology.[tribuneindia+5]
Satellites are particularly vulnerable. High-energy particles from the Sun can penetrate satellite electronics, causing malfunctions or even permanent damage. This can put satellites out of operation.Communication systems also face risks. Radio waves used for satellite communications and GPS navigation can be disrupted by increased ionization in Earth's ionosphere, a layer 100 to 1,000 kilometers above the Earth.[spaceweather+5]
GPS navigation systems can become less accurate or even lose signals entirely. This happens because changes in the ionosphere can alter the speed of radio waves, causing "propagation delays" or "loss of lock."Power grids on Earth are also at risk. Coronal mass ejections can trigger intense geomagnetic storms that induce extra currents in the ground, potentially degrading power grid operations.[spaceweather+5]
A recent NASA-led study, published in July 2026, suggested that Earth's response to solar storms might not have an upper limit as previously thought. This means extreme solar storms could have much worse effects on our technology than current estimates indicate. The study challenged earlier understandings based on how solar wind measurements were taken.[science+1]
In March 2026, scientists also pinpointed the tachocline as a key source of solar storms. This thin layer, about 200,000 kilometers below the Sun's surface, shows intense movements that amplify magnetic fields, triggering these powerful events.Another study in June 2026 revealed that the Sun's internal rhythm has shifted over the past 40 years, with magnetic activity becoming more concentrated closer to the surface.[indiatvnews+2]
Improving Future Forecasts
The new understanding of the Sun's internal dynamics, particularly the extended meridional flow, is a crucial step forward. By providing a clearer picture of how magnetic fields and plasma move throughout the Sun, scientists can better predict when and where solar activity might occur.[tribuneindia+1]
Improved space weather forecasting is becoming increasingly important. Our modern world relies heavily on space-based technology. Accurate predictions will help satellite operators, communication companies, and power grid managers prepare for and reduce the impact of solar storms. This could mean taking steps like temporarily shutting down sensitive equipment or rerouting communications to avoid disruptions.[tribuneindia+2]
Researchers believe that radio astronomy, the technique used in this study, offers a valuable new way to explore the Sun's internal workings. This will help scientists develop more reliable, physics-based models for forecasting solar activity and protecting our technological infrastructure from its effects.[tribuneindia+2]
