Corona: Difference between revisions

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#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">A set of one or more colored rings of small angular radii concentrically surrounding the  the sun, moon, or other [[light]] source when veiled by a thin cloud.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">The corona can be distinguished from the [[halo of 22&#x000b0;]] due to its much smaller angular radius,  which is often only a few degrees, and by its color sequence, which is from bluish white on the  inside to reddish on the outside, the reverse of that in the 22&#x000b0; halo. Further, the color sequence  of the corona can be repeated. [[Fraunhofer diffraction theory]] is often used to provide an approximate  description of the corona. This theory predicts that the center of the corona is essentially  white and that the radius of a ring of a particular color is approximately inversely proportional to  the [[drop]] radius. Consequences of this are that the rings are most discernible and have the purest  colors when the droplets in a particular portion of a [[cloud]] are nearly uniform in size (mono  disperse); the rings are most nearly circular if the droplets that produce different portions of the  corona are nearly the same size (spatial homogeneity); rings are caused by droplets with a radius  of less than about 15 &#x003bc;m (the rings from larger droplets are washed out by the angular width of  the sun). When there is a broad [[range]] of [[droplet]] sizes, the rings are distinct, the colors faint, and  the phenomenon is often called an [[aureole]]. Although it is possible for colorful coronas to be  produced by [[ice crystals]], usually the broad range of sizes and shapes of crystals precludes this.  Similarly, coronas are rarely produced by [[dust]] due to the broad range of [[particle]] sizes normally  present, but rare observations, such as [[Bishop's rings]], have been reported.</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">A set of one or more colored rings of small angular radii concentrically surrounding the  the sun, moon, or other [[light]] source when veiled by a thin cloud.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">The corona can be distinguished from the [[halo of 22&#x000b0;]] due to its much smaller angular radius,  which is often only a few degrees, and by its color sequence, which is from bluish white on the  inside to reddish on the outside, the reverse of that in the 22&#x000b0; halo. Further, the color sequence  of the corona can be repeated. [[Fraunhofer diffraction theory]] is often used to provide an approximate  description of the corona. This theory predicts that the center of the corona is essentially  white and that the radius of a ring of a particular color is approximately inversely proportional to  the [[drop]] radius. Consequences of this are that the rings are most discernible and have the purest  colors when the droplets in a particular portion of a [[cloud]] are nearly uniform in size (mono  disperse); the rings are most nearly circular if the droplets that produce different portions of the  corona are nearly the same size (spatial homogeneity); rings are caused by droplets with a radius  of less than about 15 ''&#x003bc;''m (the rings from larger droplets are washed out by the angular width of  the sun). When there is a broad [[range]] of [[droplet]] sizes, the rings are distinct, the colors faint, and  the phenomenon is often called an [[aureole]]. Although it is possible for colorful coronas to be  produced by [[ice crystals]], usually the broad range of sizes and shapes of crystals precludes this.  Similarly, coronas are rarely produced by [[dust]] due to the broad range of [[particle]] sizes normally  present, but rare observations, such as [[Bishop's rings]], have been reported.</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">(''Also called'' solar corona.) The outer envelope of the sun's atmosphere consisting of ionized  gases, predominantly [[hydrogen]] and [[helium]], at temperatures that exceed one million degrees  Kelvin.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">The white [[light]] emission observed at solar eclipse or with the [[coronagraph]] arises from [[scattering]] of photospheric [[radiation]] from [[free electrons]] in the corona. The shape of the corona varies during the [[sunspot cycle]]. At [[solar minimum]] the corona has large extensions along the  sun's equator, with short brush-like tufts near the poles. At [[solar maximum]] the equatorial extensions  are much smaller and the corona is more regular in shape.</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">(''Also called'' solar corona.) The outermost layer of the solar atmosphere, characterized by low [[density]] (<10<sup>9</sup> cm<sup>&#8722;3</sup>) and high [[temperature]] (>10<sup>6</sup> K). The very high temperatures in the corona are still unexplained. The white [[light]] emission observed at solar eclipse or with a [[coronagraph]] arises from the [[scattering]] of photospheric [[radiation]] from [[free electrons]] in the corona. The shape of the corona varies during the [[solar cycle]] ([[sunspot cycle]]).</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition"><br/>''See'' [[aurora]].</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition"><br/>''See'' [[aurora]].</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition"><br/>''See'' [[corona discharge]].</div><br/> </div>
#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition"><br/>''See'' [[corona discharge]].</div><br/> </div>
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<p>''Term edited 13 August 2018.''</p>


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Latest revision as of 04:28, 10 September 2018



corona[edit | edit source]

  1. A set of one or more colored rings of small angular radii concentrically surrounding the the sun, moon, or other light source when veiled by a thin cloud.

    The corona can be distinguished from the halo of 22° due to its much smaller angular radius, which is often only a few degrees, and by its color sequence, which is from bluish white on the inside to reddish on the outside, the reverse of that in the 22° halo. Further, the color sequence of the corona can be repeated. Fraunhofer diffraction theory is often used to provide an approximate description of the corona. This theory predicts that the center of the corona is essentially white and that the radius of a ring of a particular color is approximately inversely proportional to the drop radius. Consequences of this are that the rings are most discernible and have the purest colors when the droplets in a particular portion of a cloud are nearly uniform in size (mono disperse); the rings are most nearly circular if the droplets that produce different portions of the corona are nearly the same size (spatial homogeneity); rings are caused by droplets with a radius of less than about 15 μm (the rings from larger droplets are washed out by the angular width of the sun). When there is a broad range of droplet sizes, the rings are distinct, the colors faint, and the phenomenon is often called an aureole. Although it is possible for colorful coronas to be produced by ice crystals, usually the broad range of sizes and shapes of crystals precludes this. Similarly, coronas are rarely produced by dust due to the broad range of particle sizes normally present, but rare observations, such as Bishop's rings, have been reported.

  2. (Also called solar corona.) The outermost layer of the solar atmosphere, characterized by low density (<109 cm−3) and high temperature (>106 K). The very high temperatures in the corona are still unexplained. The white light emission observed at solar eclipse or with a coronagraph arises from the scattering of photospheric radiation from free electrons in the corona. The shape of the corona varies during the solar cycle (sunspot cycle).


  3. See aurora.

Term edited 13 August 2018.


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