Thunderbolts Forum v3.0

[b]The Heliotube![/b]

[url]https://phys.org/news/2022-09-cat-eye-nebula-3d.html[/url]

A far better graphic, compared to my original ones, of what I have called the 'heliotube'.

Although of the Cat's Eye Nebula, it gives an indication of how the Sun's environment would appear to an external observer if it were visible.

[b]Switchbacks?[/b]

Beginning on an original thread in March 2014 I proposed a tentative scenario by which Birkeland Currents in the Local Interstellar Medium (LISM) provide the Sun with all its radiant energy.

The motivation for the thread was the critique of the Electric Sun hypothesis by Bob Johnson at the EU 2013 ‘Tipping Point’ Conference; it formed my defence of what I called the Juergens, Milton, Scott, Thornhill (JMST) Electric Sun model. JMST is not to be confused with JWST.

The essence of my proposal was that the Sun’s radiant energy arrives at the Sun via Birkeland Currents, this process manifests as the ‘solar cycle’. The solar cycle occurs due a complex relationship between the Sun’s axial tilt, relative to the galactic plane, and Birkeland Currents found in the LISM.

How does this relate to ‘switchbacks’?

A recent announcement by the European Space Agency (ESA) claims that the mystery of ‘switchbacks’ has been solved.

[url]https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter/Solar_Orbiter_solves_magnetic_switchback_mystery[/url]

From the associated paper we find that despite claims by mainstream heliophysicists: “solar wind acceleration mechanisms, its complex dynamics and interaction with the solar magnetic field, and the observed plasma heating are still outstanding questions in heliophysics.”

The settled science of heliophysics, like other areas of ‘settled science’, is far from settled.

[b]History and characteristics of switchbacks[/b]

“First observed in the outer heliosphere by the Ulysses spacecraft in high-latitude fast solar wind (Balogh et al. 1999; Yamauchi et al. 2004), switchbacks are markedly Alfvénic, pressure-balanced structures, characterized by constant temperature and magnetic field magnitude, and associated with substantial acceleration of the plasma. Later analysis of Helios data in the ecliptic fast solar wind showed an abundance of such structures in the inner heliosphere (Horbury et al. 2018). More recently, extensive measurements by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP, Fox et al. 2016) confirmed that the presence of switchbacks increases dramatically near the Sun (Bale et al. 2019; Kasper et al. 2019) and allowed a thorough study of their characteristics.”

“At close distances from the Sun, switchbacks appear in dense, irregular clusters that alternate with quiet periods of stable field polarity and smaller magnetic fluctuations, with a modulation on a timescale of a few hours (Bale et al. 2021). The size and spatial distribution of the switchback patches, as well as the plasma characteristics within them, are compatible with the coronal magnetic structure determined by solar supergranulation (Bale et al. 2021)."

The authors admit that: “Despite the numerous and thorough experimental studies, the nature of the mechanisms generating the switchbacks is still being debated. For example, it is not clear if they are driven by processes in the lower solar atmosphere (Magyar et al. 2021) or self-consistently generated in the solar wind.”

A number of models exist to explain the nature of switchbacks, one suggests: “The observed coupling with solar supergranulation (Bale et al. 2021) seems to suggest that switchbacks are nonlinear Alfvénic structures somehow associated with the global circulation of open magnetic flux at the solar surface (Fisk & Kasper 2020; Zank et al. 2021).”

Observations by Solar Orbiter confirmed that switchbacks are associated with active regions: “The structure formed above the complex loop system related to the Active Region (AR) 12972…” and have a “wavy” shape. This wavy shape is, in reality, a 2D view of a 3D vortex: “a single large propagating S-shaped vortex”.

[b]Switchbacks and the Solar Cycle[/b]

Switchbacks were observed by the Ulysses spacecraft during solar minimum (1994-1995) but only at high solar latitudes.
Solar Orbiter has observed switchbacks at lower solar latitudes this time during the rising phase of solar cycle 25.
Both observations were associated with the Fast Solar Wind.

We can see that their numbers increase closer to the Sun, this is to be expected as the impinging Birkeland Currents become ever more filamentary as they approach the Sun.

We can see that they are associated with active regions, again, this is to be expected as the solar cycle progresses and the orderly arrival of Birkeland Current at the solar poles gives way to the more complex arrival of currents at solar mid and equatorial regions.

Given that switchbacks are associated with the Fast Solar Wind they will provide useful markers as the solar cycle progresses, as the Fast Solar Wind disappears, to where the actual impinging currents are, before they retreat back towards the solar poles at solar minimum.

We can now see that switchbacks are further evidence of what has been proposed on this thread.

Regarding the "wild idea" mentioned above, the gnomists do indeed have their blinders on. Here’s a link to an article from the university hosting this research: [url]https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-astronomer-s-research-suggests-magnetic-tunnel-surrounds-our-solar-system[/url] , and a link to the scientific paper authored by the discoverers, Jennifer West, et al: [url]https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.14720.pdf[/url]. What's interesting is that in the paper itself, the closest the authors get to seeing an electrical connection is when they write “We still do not fully understand the origin and evolution of regular magnetic fields in galaxies and how this field is maintained. In this picture, where long-lived filaments are elongated along the field lines, they could be one source where electrons are trapped, and contribute to maintaining such a regular field (Heiles 1998).” Yes, they actually mentioned electrons. So close ... but so far. And when the lead author, Jennifer West, was quoted in the utoronto article saying “Magnetic fields don’t exist in isolation” she was right ... just for the wrong reasons. I believe that an obstacle to her understanding what is really going on is that the paper doesn’t even contain the word “plasma”? Wonder what she thinks these filaments she discovered are made of ... if not plasma?

She also essentially ignores the biggest telltale. Her paper and modeling essentially assume that the filaments are parallel. But at one point on pages 13 and 14 of the paper, when talking about the North Polar Spur (NPS) and two other loops (IX and Is), it's observed that brightness gradients along the length of the filaments “could be due to variations in magnetic field orientation” and that filaments inclined to the galactic plane 30 degrees show a better correspondence between model and data. Then, importantly, the paper states “[b]This could be produced if the filaments consist of a bundle of finer filaments with a twisted or helical structure[/b]”. A helical structure. Well well well. OH SO CLOSE TO UNDERSTANDING. But then they go on to say “even though the case where β = 30◦ shows a better correspondence for the brightness along the NPS, [b]we choose to discuss the β = 0◦ case for the remainder of this paper.[/b]" They just can’t look past the blinders that their education has given them, can they? What a shame. But I do love the author being quoted at the end of the utoronto article saying something which only a decade or two ago would have resulted in absolute derision from her fellow gnome believers: “I think it’s just awesome to imagine that these structures are everywhere whenever we look up into the night sky.” :)

Robertus[quote]I disagree, it is electrical currents in the "magnetic tunnel" that not only connect the Sun to the galaxy but also provide the Sun with all its radiant energy.[/quote]
Yes.
The new "Wild Idea" is certainly not new to EU advocates.
They talk about this as if the filamentary nature of the cosmos is a new discovery.
The extensive work you have done describing the EXTERNAL power sources of our SOLAR SYSTEM have been strongly confirmed.
I appreciate and agree with your work.
I, however, take this opportunity to restate my own concerns about our EU solar model.

I have recently watched Wall Thornhill and Don Scott being interviewed by Gareth on his See the pattern You Tube channel.
Don Scott clearly labels the Chromosphere in his diagrams(these have also been on the EU forum) as a Double Layer.
Yet, it is not discussed.
You, Robert, speak of the "discharge" of the sun, and stop there without details.
How does the discharge of the sun take on these complicated, and constant, three distinct parts ?
The Chromosphere is clearly the structural double layer that maintains separation between the photosphere and the corona and also conducts current between the two to power the sun.
To me, this is not a simple "discharge".
I think the EU community has taken the path of looking for, and/or describing, the CIRCUIT that powers the sun, and has failed to follow up on the abilities of plasma to self organize. These abilities and resulting plasma events take place in 3 dimensional open space.
Our concept of circuits is linear.
We need a power source and a load connected by two LINES. Along each line we place a NODE
and call one an anode, the other a cathode. When the current changes direction the names switch. It's all very linear.
The SAFIRE project is an example of a linear circuit.
However,
with our solar system, everything is happening in the same space, and at the same time, all mixed together; yet somehow there is a complicated three part structure we call the sun and it's atmosphere.
The plasma does this !
I suggest we look at our solar SYSTEM as a plasma cell, with a complicated plasma nucleus, powered externally by the sources you have described above. We need to focus more on THE double layer of primary importance; the Chromosphere.
It seems to me to be the almost unnoticed elephant in the room !

[b]The Heliotube?[/b]

Over 5 years ago, on this thread, I introduced the concept of what I imaginatively called the 'Heliotube'. This concept was based on observations by the IBEX and Cassini spacecraft:
[url]https://www.thunderbolts.info/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16299&start=120#p115766[/url]

A few years later I revised the orientation of the Heliotube:
[url]https://www.thunderbolts.info/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16299&start=255#p128309[/url]

[b]Wild New Paper Claims Earth May Be Surrounded by a Giant Magnetic Tunnel[/b]

Recent studies have led to the suggestion of a "wild" idea- the solar system is surrounded by a "magnetic tunnel".
[url]https://www.sciencealert.com/earth-may-be-surrounded-by-a-giant-magnetic-tunnel[/url]
[url]https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.14720[/url]

"Mysterious structures in the sky that have puzzled astronomers for decades might finally have an explanation – and it's quite something."

"If we were to look up in the sky," said astronomer Jennifer West of the University of Toronto in Canada, "we would see this tunnel-like structure in just about every direction we looked – that is, if we had eyes that could see radio light."

"Magnetic fields don't exist in isolation. They all must connect to each other. So a next step is to better understand how this local magnetic field connects both to the larger-scale galactic magnetic field, and also to the smaller scale magnetic fields of our Sun and Earth," West said.

"I think it's just awesome to imagine that these structures are everywhere, whenever we look up into the night sky."

Has consensus astronomy acknowledged this existence of the Heliotube? According to the author the next step is to understand how all the various magnetic fields "connect" together.

I disagree, it is electrical currents in the "magnetic tunnel" that not only connect the Sun to the galaxy but also provide the Sun with all its radiant energy.

[b]Space Hurricanes and the Solar Cycle[/b]

Does the existence of the newly discovered ‘space hurricane’ phenomenon at the Earth’s pole serve as an analogue of the solar cycle?

In May 2019 I wrote (1):

[i][b]The Maelstrom at the Sun’s North Pole[/b]
Observations by the SDO and STEREO spacecraft reveal a vortex feature at the Sun’s North Pole. Further research hints at a similar structure at the Sun’s South Pole while both features show a degree of stability over a number of solar cycles.
Can you see it? [u]https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12550[/u][/i]

In that post, having presented further evidence for an external cause of the solar cycle, I asked the question: “Solar Maximum – Hurricane Season?”

[b]Can you see it?[/b]

[u]https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012500/a012550/Rossby_Waves_NorthPole304.mp4[/u]

The dark lanes trace a vortex feature at the Sun’s North Pole.

[b]Space Hurricane or Polar Vortex?[/b]

The authors of a recent paper (2) report: “…a long-lasting space hurricane in the polar ionosphere and magnetosphere during low solar and otherwise low geomagnetic activity. This hurricane shows strong circular horizontal plasma flow with shears, a nearly zero-flow center, and a coincident cyclone-shaped aurora caused by strong electron precipitation associated with intense upward magnetic field-aligned currents. Near the center, precipitating electrons were substantially accelerated to approximately 10 keV. The hurricane imparted large energy and momentum deposition into the ionosphere…”

The description of the ‘space hurricane’ bears a striking similarity to the structure observed in the solar polar atmosphere identified in an earlier post.

“Around the north magnetic pole, a cyclone-like auroral spot (diameter over 1000 km) with multiple arms and a trend of anticlockwise rotation is analogically named as space hurricane hereafter. The space hurricane was observed by four DMSP satellites, and the observed flows at all the spacecraft magnetic local times (MLTs) were consistent with circular fast flows surrounding the hurricane center. It appeared in the polar cap after multiple transpolar arcs disappeared when the interplanetary conditions changed from strongly northward dominated IMF (Bz = ~17 nT, By < 5 nT) with comparable solar wind number density (Nsw =~4 cm) to the conditions described above, similar with the conditions for the appearance of the HiLDA spots…

“…The field-aligned current (FAC) along the satellite track calculated from the magnetic field measurements of DMSP F16 indicates that the space hurricane was associated with an upward FAC.” (3)

The space hurricane appeared following a change in Earth’s electrical environment.

Observations revealed that: “… the space hurricane had zero horizontal flow near its center (the hurricane eye) as well as strong flow shears around the edges: strong sunward flows on its duskside (maximum ~2100 m/s) and antisunward flows on its dawnside (maximum ~800 m/s). Note that there will be a small horizontal offset between the in situ plasma drift data and the auroral images, because the converging magnetic field will cause the flow shears to decrease in horizontal extent from the DMSP in situ observation altitude (860 km) to the auroral mapping altitude (110 km). These flow shears give a clockwise circulation of ionospheric flow, which appears opposite to the rotation trend that might be inferred from the multiple arms of the auroral spot. This indicates an interesting difference from tropospheric hurricanes that is discussed latter.” (4)

One puzzle from my 2019 post was that the rotation of the solar vortex, the ‘spiral arms’ of which form a chevron or herringbone pattern when viewed equatorially, appears to be opposite to the accepted differential rotation direction of the Sun; observations closer to Earth may answer that puzzle.

Concluding their description of a ‘space hurricane’ the authors continue: “A large cyclone-shaped auroral spot is shown with a nearly zero-flow center and strong circular horizontal plasma flow, shears, electron precipitation, and upward FACs. These features resemble a typical hurricane in the lower atmosphere.

“…open field lines are draped by the solar wind to move dawnward and then tailward from the morning side to the afternoon side in the high-latitude lobe region. During their dawnward and tailward motion, an elongated FAC sheet forms due to the flow shear, and the magnetosheath ions precipitate into the cusp ionosphere along field lines to give the downward FACs (like traces of dropping sands from a moving hourglass). In order to maintain current continuity in the ionosphere, the system sets up an upward FAC with a parallel potential that accelerates the existing electrons into the ionosphere and creates an arm of the auroral spot…

“When the lobe reconnection is pulsed or quasi-steady for an extended period of time (e.g., several hours), the reconnected open field lines will gradually return to their previous positions and participate in a new cycle of magnetic reconnection, which will eventually form a cyclone-shaped funnel of FAC with multiple FAC arms and a clockwise circulation of the plasma flow, due to the pressure gradient and magnetic stresses on both sides of the funnel for completing the FACs and the flow shear and curvature of the circular flow. Inside the funnel, a corkscrew magnetic field forms with circular flow and upward FACs, which accelerate electrons that precipitate into the ionosphere and create the auroral spot with multiple arms as observed... In other words, the auroral arm represent the trace of the footprints of the reconnected magnetic field lines, and shows an illusionary trend of anti-clockwise rotation, which is opposite to the flow circulation and different from tropospheric hurricanes.” (5)

From this description and Figure 5a in the paper we can see that both the earthly auroral cyclone and the solar cyclone are somewhat illusory, nevertheless the cyclonic pattern accelerates electrons into the Earth’s ionosphere, can we speculate that the same cyclonic pattern is accelerating electrons into the Sun’s photosphere? This may be a possibility as the ‘arms’ of the solar cyclone trace the path of active regions as the solar cycle progresses.

Of course, in the paper the driver of this process is ‘reconnection’ of open magnetic field lines, of interest here is the association of the cyclone with ‘open magnetic field lines’, in the case of the Sun we are talking about a connection with its environment and not a ‘reconnection’.

[b]Distant Electrons[/b]

In another recent paper (6) researchers have found that aurora are powered by electrons arriving from far greater distances than previously thought.

The study of auroral arcs, of the type that precede a ‘space hurricane’ concluded: “Our observations agree with the typical characteristics of the acceleration region observed by previous low altitude satellites. This further compels us to modify our previous representation of the acceleration region and extend it to farther than the ~ 30,000 km altitude although the potential drop region along the field line above the satellite is not determined. The physical mechanism of the quasi-electrostatic parallel electric field is, however, still unknown. The double layer at the boundary between ionospheric and magnetospheric plasma has been considered as the location of the associated potential drop, residing at low-altitudes. In the Earth’s radiation belts, near the magnetic equator, intense parallel electric fields are short-lived, narrow spatial structures. This study demonstrates that the parallel electric field accelerating the auroral particle can exist at any height along a field line and is not limited to the transition region where the cold dense plasma from the ionosphere and the hot tenuous plasma from the magnetosphere coexist, suggesting some unknown magnetospheric mechanisms. Understanding the formation mechanism of the quasi-electrostatic parallel electric field is crucial for following the processes of discrete aurora emission and current transport on other planets, including Jupiter and Mars where potential-driven acceleration has been reported.”(7)

The authors readily admit that potential-driven acceleration has been reported at other planets, now, as plasma processes are scalable, I’m suggesting that a similar process produces features observed in the solar atmosphere; not only that, the same accelerated electrons power the solar discharge as originally proposed by Ralph Juergens.

How long before the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter spacecraft find similar processes and features centred on the Sun?

[b]References:[/b]
1. [u]https://www.thunderbolts.info/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16299&start=225#p127597[/u]
2. Zhang. Q-H. et al. 2021, A space hurricane over the Earth’s polar ionosphere, [i]Nature Communications[/i], 12:1207 (10pp), 2021 February 22
[i]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21459-y#Sec10[/i]
3. Ibid. pp.2
4. Ibid. pp.2-3
5. Ibid. pp.6
6. Imajo. S. et al. 2021, Active auroral arc powered by accelerated electrons from very high altitudes, [i]Nature Research[/i], Scientific Reports 11:1610 (8pp), 2021 January 18
[b]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79665-5[/b]
7. Ibid. pp.3

[quote=Solar post_id=3144 time=1601665586 user_id=75]
[quote="Robertus Maximus" post_id=3136 time=1601491817 user_id=29278]

"The MAG has also observed waves caused by protons and electrons streaming from the Sun. Further out, near the Earth, these particles are distributed more evenly in the bulk solar wind of charged particles streaming from the Sun, but at Solar Orbiter there are also ‘beams’ protons and electrons coming from the Sun.
(...)
Beams or Birkeland Currents? It will be interesting to see future data from both spacecraft as the solar cycle develops and how solar physicists fit such findings into their thermonuclear solar model.
[/quote]

There are cases when the term "[url=https://www.google.com/search?q=%22solar+wind%22%2B+%22proton+currents%22&client=firefox-b-1-d&ei=zXd3X-3WNpXFytMPqLC1kAU&start=0&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwit8cX-ypbsAhWVonIEHShYDVI4ChDx0wN6BAgLECw&biw=1412&bih=775]Proton Currents[/url]" has been used as well as "[url=https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&biw=1412&bih=775&ei=63d3X8LzNfTBytMP9b2KqA0&q=%22solar+wind%22%2B+%22proton+beams%22&oq=%22solar+wind%22%2B+%22proton+beams%22&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIFCCEQqwJQiJULWI2dC2C-rgtoAHAAeACAAXGIAe0EkgEDMi40mAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesABAQ&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiCleyMy5bsAhX0oHIEHfWeAtUQ4dUDCAw&uact=5]Proton Beams[/url]".

There have also been cases, like with electrons and (CIR's), where these "beams" or "currents", have been detected propagating sun-ward (inbound) as opposed to anti-sunward (outbound):

[url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/805/2/176/pdf]SUNWARD PROPAGATING ALFVÉN WAVES IN ASSOCIATION WITHSUNWARD DRIFTING PROTON BEAMS IN THE SOLAR WIND[/url] - Jiansen He, Zhongtian Pei, Linghua Wang
[/quote]

I haven't finished reading the whole paper yet, and it's hard to slog through all the nonsense about open field lines and "magnetic reconnection". However...

The gist of the paper would suggest that protons "beams" are moving inward toward the sun. That observation is fully consistent with Birkeland's cathode model by the way, along with the discovery that the whole solar system is being bombarded by positively charged cosmic rays traveling at nearly the speed of light.

[quote="Robertus Maximus" post_id=3136 time=1601491817 user_id=29278]

"The MAG has also observed waves caused by protons and electrons streaming from the Sun. Further out, near the Earth, these particles are distributed more evenly in the bulk solar wind of charged particles streaming from the Sun, but at Solar Orbiter there are also ‘beams’ protons and electrons coming from the Sun.
(...)
Beams or Birkeland Currents? It will be interesting to see future data from both spacecraft as the solar cycle develops and how solar physicists fit such findings into their thermonuclear solar model.
[/quote]

There are cases when the term "[url=https://www.google.com/search?q=%22solar+wind%22%2B+%22proton+currents%22&client=firefox-b-1-d&ei=zXd3X-3WNpXFytMPqLC1kAU&start=0&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwit8cX-ypbsAhWVonIEHShYDVI4ChDx0wN6BAgLECw&biw=1412&bih=775]Proton Currents[/url]" has been used as well as "[url=https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&biw=1412&bih=775&ei=63d3X8LzNfTBytMP9b2KqA0&q=%22solar+wind%22%2B+%22proton+beams%22&oq=%22solar+wind%22%2B+%22proton+beams%22&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIFCCEQqwJQiJULWI2dC2C-rgtoAHAAeACAAXGIAe0EkgEDMi40mAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesABAQ&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiCleyMy5bsAhX0oHIEHfWeAtUQ4dUDCAw&uact=5]Proton Beams[/url]".

There have also been cases, like with electrons and (CIR's), where these "beams" or "currents", have been detected propagating sun-ward (inbound) as opposed to anti-sunward (outbound):

[url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/805/2/176/pdf]SUNWARD PROPAGATING ALFVÉN WAVES IN ASSOCIATION WITHSUNWARD DRIFTING PROTON BEAMS IN THE SOLAR WIND[/url] - Jiansen He, Zhongtian Pei, Linghua Wang

[b]Sunbeams?[/b]

[url]https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/205373/solar-orbiters-first-science-data-shows/[/url]

"Three of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft’s instruments, including Imperial’s magnetometer, have released their first data."

"The Sun’s activity is closely linked to the state of its magnetic field, and this is measured by Imperial’s instrument aboard Solar Orbiter, the magnetometer (MAG). Since June, MAG has recorded hundreds of millions of ‘vectors’ – measurements of the direction and strength of the Sun’s magnetic field."

"The MAG has also observed waves caused by protons and electrons streaming from the Sun. Further out, near the Earth, these particles are distributed more evenly in the bulk solar wind of charged particles streaming from the Sun, but at Solar Orbiter there are also ‘beams’ protons and electrons coming from the Sun.

"There appears to much more structure in the solar wind closer to the Sun, and this is further shown by MAG confirming the presence of ‘switchbacks’ – dramatic folds in the solar wind first recorded by the Parker Solar Probe, a NASA mission launched in 2018."

Beams or Birkeland Currents? It will be interesting to see future data from both spacecraft as the solar cycle develops and how solar physicists fit such findings into their thermonuclear solar model.

[quote=paladin17 post_id=2872 time=1598282527 user_id=29470]
*snip*
[/quote]
This still isn't really answering some fundamental questions as to why they're hot/cold in the first place. Is there any relationship between charge and temperature? That is, if high pressure systems are anticyclonic positive charge areas, why are they usually warm? If low pressure systems are cyclonic and negative charge regions, why are they usually cold? And high/low pressure systems don't dissipate at night/day when temperatures drop/increase markedly due to lack/presence of sun, so solar heating may not be the sole cause.

Guess I'm interested in the global electric circuit and how movement of charged particles or electric current causes weather, but unfortunately I don't have much time for reading physics right now.

[quote="JP Michael" post_id=2816 time=1597706892 user_id=30575]
Why is it that high-pressure downdrafts, assuming a generally positive charge region, are warm and dry, whereas low pressure, negatively charged updraft systems, are cool and wet?
[/quote]
In the troposphere the primary source of heating is the Earth's surface. Therefore, when the air moves down, it starts to warm up. And warm air can hold more vapor without condensation. So high pressure corresponds to fair weather. The reverse is true for low pressure: as the air rises and cools down, it can no longer hold as much vapor and some of it condensates into clouds etc.

I have often wondered about the relationship between atmospheric temperature and charge polarity. Why is it that high-pressure downdrafts, assuming a generally positive charge region, are warm and dry, whereas low pressure, negatively charged updraft systems, are cool and wet? And why do troughs bring large, thin horizonal regions of cool and wet weather (of course warm troughs also exist, but I hardly see them here in Aus)?

Is this something that has ever been tested in a lab? What is the relationship between polarity and regional temperature in a dynamic current flowing through the earth's atmosphere?

I digress somewhat from the original solar discussion, but my point is that may of the effects witnessed on the sun are analogous on earth as well. The main differences are the magnitude (the earth's system is much weaker electrically) and the primary medium (instead of being mostly pure plasma, earth has far greater preponderance of water and neutral atoms as potential charge carriers).

Anyway, the materials you offered above will keep me thinking for some time.

Cheers @Solar!

[quote="JP Michael" post_id=2810 time=1597639484 user_id=30575]
I have often wondered if this dynamic is also present on earth, and how earth's terrestrial atmosphere alters the dynamics of loop formation.
[/quote]

That is something to work with imho. To go out on a limb perhaps the earth’s magnetic field has something to do with the interaction of “Warm Fronts” and “Cold Fronts”. The darker areas of “coronal holes” are considered to be cooler (plasma) than that of the Coronal mist so one could assert that CH’s (the footprints of “open magnetic field lines” of the larger global heliosphere) presents analogous “cold fronts” to the “warm fronts” of localized “active regions”. If I were standing on the Sun looking up, the “coronal holes” would be analogous to looking through various types of Coronal ‘cloud cover’ at an azure blue sky.

Have a look at this satellite image of “cyclonic” and “anticyclonic” circulation patterns here:

[url=https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/2020-04-06-big-hole-cloud-cover-north-pacific-ocean]A Big Hole Appeared in Cloud Cover Over the North Pacific Ocean Sunday; Here’s What Caused It?[/url] Wheather Channel

On the Sun this Earth based weather pattern *might* correspond with the two areas of an “Active Region” where one area is “negative” and the other area is “positive”. Looking at theoretical considerations of “convergent”, “divergent”, and movement of “air currents” between and throughout each feature ([url=https://www.pmfias.com/indian-monsoon-mechanism-jet-stream-theory-role-of-sub-tropical-jet-stream/]as portrayed here[/url]) substitute the dynamics of those “air currents” with electric currents instead and consider this: With regard to the Sun there is debate in the literature as to whether electric currents in “Active Regions” are neutralized, or not.

[quote]Models for energy storage in the solar corona due to the twisting of coronal magnetic fields by subphotospheric flows imply that coronal currents should be neutralized (i.e., observed currents over a given polarity of the magnetic field should sum to zero). The neutralized current hypothesis is quantitatively tested by examining vector magnetic field data from 21 active regions observed by the Solar Magnetic Field Telescope of the Huairou Solar Observing Station of Beijing Astronomical Observatory. For each active region, the current over the positive polarity of the field, I+, is estimated, as well as the current over the negative polarity, I-, and the total current over both polarities, Itot. In no case is the total current Itot significantly different from zero. The currents I+ and I- are found to be significantly different from zero (at the 3 σ level) in more than half of the active regions studied, implying that large-scale currents in active regions are typically unneutralized. The implications of this result and the relationship of this study to related studies (e.g., of current helicity) are discussed. - [url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/308577]Are Electric Currents in Solar Active Regions Neutralized?[/url] - M. S. Wheatland 2000[/quote]

[quote]Using time-sequence vector magnetic field observation from Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, we examined the connection of non-neutralized currents and the observed activity in 20 solar active regions (ARs). The net current in a given magnetic polarity is algebraic sum of direct current (DC) and return current (RC) and the ratio |DC/RC| is a measure of degree of net current neutralization (NCN). In the emerging ARs, the non-neutrality of these currents builds with the onset of flux emergence, following the relaxation to neutrality during the separation motion of bipolar regions. Accordingly, some emerging ARs are source regions of CMEs occurring at the time of higher level non-neutrality. ARs in the post-emergence phase can be CME productive provided they have interacting bipolar regions with converging and shearing motions. In these cases, the net current evolves with higher level (>1.3) of non-neutrality. Differently, the |DC/RC| in flaring and quiet ARs vary near unity. In all the AR samples, the |DC/RC| is higher for chiral current density than that for vertical current density. Owing to the fact that the non-neutralized currents arise in the vicinity of sheared polarity-inversion-lines (SPILs), the profiles of the total length of SPIL segments and the degree of NCN follow each other with a positive correlation. We find that the SPIL is localized as small segments in flaring-ARs, whereas it is long continuous in CME-producing ARs. These observations demonstrate the dividing line between the CMEs and flares with the difference being in global or local nature of magnetic shear in the AR that reflected in non-neutralized currents. - [url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8724709]Degree of electric current neutralization and the activity in solar active regions[/url]: P Vemareddy Apr. 2019[/quote]

With these latest findings coalescing over the last 20 years or so the “active regions”, with their negative and positive localized (“closed loop”) configuration are analogous to a relatively stable dipole system. Their configuration is similar to the cyclonic/anticyclonic - convergent/divergent relationship with electric currents circulating as opposed to air currents moving between them as proposed on Earth.

Then, near this relatively stable dipole “active region”, the boundary of an even larger unipolar “cold front” (of an “open magnetic field line” - belonging to the MUCH larger global magnetic field) approaches. This disrupts, and simultaneously excites, the relatively stable dipole active region resulting in…

[quote]Active regions on the Sun are places where the Sun's magnetic field is disturbed. These regions frequently spawn various types of solar activity, including explosive "solar storms" such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME). - [url=https://scied.ucar.edu/image/solar-active-regions-sunspots-uv-image]NCAR-UCAR[/url][/quote]

Therefore, if I were to superimpose the aforementioned cyclonic/anticyclonic image onto this image of an [url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/images/largesize/PIA22582_hires.jpg]Active Region[/url] such that they are both visible and [i]'electrodynamically'[/i] compare them .... perhaps there's something in there.

Besides; those kinds of comparison are done on a regular basis. The "Tachocline" was put forth in similar manner via comparison with Earth's oceans[i]“It is therefore worthwhile to see a theoretical rationalization of this velocity boundary layer, which we call the solar tachocline by analogy with the oceanic thermocline.”[/i]

[quote]Acoustic sounding of the Sun reveals that the variation of angular velocity with latitude is independent of depth in the convection zone. By contrast, deep within the radiative zone, the rotation appears to be rigid. The transition between the two rotation laws occurs in a thin, unresolved layer that the authors here call the tachocline. This paper is an examination of the structure and previous evolution of this layer. It is assumed that the stress exerted by the convection zone is prescribed, much as oceanographers take the wind stress on the sea surface as given. It is concluded that the helioseismic observations are best rationalized by a scenario in which, after an initial adjustment or spindown period, the subconvective rotation settles into a quasisteady state with a turbulent boundary layer. In the tachocline, the advection of angular momentum is controlled by horizontal turbulence. If this turbulence is intense enough, the tachocline is thin and is unresolved. - [url= http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1992A%26A...265..106S]The Solar Tachocline[/url] - Spiegel, E. A; Zahn, J. P.[/quote]

[quote=Solar post_id=2809 time=1597612262 user_id=75]
If you read the paper you'll see the amazing way that one pole of dipole "Active Regions" are interacting with "Coronal Hole Boundaries" to induce the 'arching' known as "Coronal Loops". Its an interesting relationship where the "active regions" form a dipole; and its the unipolar "open" - "coronal hole boundary" interacting with one of the poles of the active region dipole that forms the "loops". Fascinating. That is why "[url=https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/gallery/preview/loops_may2010.jpg]Coronal Cascades[/url]" ("slinkies") consisting of multiple loops along a distance can be so very long i.e. the mutual interaction can incorporate a rather lengthy section of the "Coronal hole boundary" constituting an "open magnetic field line".
[/quote]
I have often wondered if this dynamic is also present on earth, and how earth's terrestrial atmosphere alters the dynamics of loop formation.

For those interested the following document analyses the "interchange reconnection" process MUCH better than the previously referenced paper and articles which leave out some details. One of the things I were having trouble with was - sure - a loop or two here and there; okay fine. However, how would a loop or two lead to something like a "[url=https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/gallery/preview/Cascading_combo.jpg]Coronal Cascade[/url]" (multiple loops):

[quote]With the data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we present a magnetic interaction between an isolated coronal hole (CH) and an emerging active region (AR). The AR emerged nearby the CH and interacted with it. Bright loops constantly formed between them, which led to a continuous retreat of the CH boundaries (CHBs). Meanwhile, two coronal dimmings respectively appeared at the negative polarity of the AR and the east boundary of the bright loops, and the AR was partly disturbed. Loop eruptions followed by a flare occurred in the AR. The interaction was also accompanied by many jets and an arc-shaped brightening that appeared to be observational signatures of magnetic reconnection at the CHBs. By comparing the observations with the derived coronal magnetic configuration, it is suggested that the interaction between the CH and the AR excellently fitted in with the model of interchange reconnection. It appears that our observations provide obvious evidences for interchange reconnection. - [url= http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/article/viewFile/1357/1364 ]Interchange reconnection between an active region and a corona hole[/url] - L. Ma, Z.Q. Qu, X.L. Yan, Z.K. Xue[/quote]

From a different source here is simulation:

[url= https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Results-of-the-M12-simulation-Top-row-evolution-of-the-magnetic-field-lines-during-the_fig7_234054664 ]Dynamics of the Transition corona[/url] - Sophie Masson [i]et al[/i]

If you read the paper you'll see the amazing way that one pole of dipole "Active Regions" are interacting with "Coronal Hole Boundaries" to induce the 'arching' known as "Coronal Loops". Its an interesting relationship where the "active regions" form a dipole; and its the unipolar "open" - "coronal hole boundary" interacting with one of the poles of the active region dipole that forms the "loops". Fascinating. That is why "[url=https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/gallery/preview/loops_may2010.jpg]Coronal Cascades[/url]" ("slinkies") consisting of multiple loops along a distance can be so very long i.e. the mutual interaction can incorporate a rather lengthy section of the "Coronal hole boundary" constituting an "open magnetic field line".