Monster Solar Tornadoes Discovered

astroengine writes "For the first time, huge solar tornadoes have been filmed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) swirling deep inside the solar corona — the sun's superheated atmosphere. But if you're imagining the pedestrian tornadoes that we experience on Earth, think again. These solar monsters, measuring the width of several Earths and swirling at speeds of up to 300,000 kilometers (190,000 miles) per hour, aren't only fascinating structures; they may also trigger violent magnetic eruptions that can have drastic effects on our planet. 'These tornadoes may help to produce favorable conditions for CMEs to occur,' said Xing Li, solar physicist at Aberystwyth University and co-discoverer of the phenomenon."

Rotational Speed

[Thelasko]

Angular velocity is a better way to measure the speed of a spinning object, because it factors out the object's diameter. Sure, 300Mm per hour sounds fast, but for an object that size, it's probably not a very impressive angular velocity.

Re:Should be obvious--scale up from Jupiter's stor

[mmell]

Agreed. The Sun is just an incredibly large hot gas giant, not necessarily too different from Jupiter in many regards.

There are differences - magnetism plays a larger role since the Sun is made of plasma and not gas. There aren't too many objects in the solar system which can exert a tremendous gravitic influence on the Sun. Unlike Jupiter (or most planets, for that matter), the Sun's core is cooler than it's surface. The weather may have some different properties, but it's still weather.

Oh, and there's no damned shade anywhere.

Re:I suppose this rules out ....

[sconeu]

I think you have cause and effect mixed up.

I'd argue that Solar Tornadoes are convincing evidence that trailer parks already exist on the Sun.

By the way.. CURSE YOU!!!! You beat me to this joke!!!