At Southern Illinois University Carbondale, ongoing research into solar activity is shedding light on the dynamic behavior of our nearest star. Led by initiatives like SolarSTEAM and the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative (DEB), faculty and students are delving into the complexities of solar phenomena. These projects, supported by NASA funding, build on past eclipse research and engage citizen scientists across North America in observing solar events.
As part of this endeavor, students from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy are actively participating in a summer research program at SIU Carbondale's STEM Education Research Center. Kennedy Su and Alain Bedi, among others, are making daily solar observations and processing data collected during the April total solar eclipse. Their contributions are crucial for understanding the correlations between sunspots, solar flares, and other surface features of the sun.
The current research efforts are particularly timely, as heightened solar activity during the solar maximum phase provides a prime opportunity to gather valuable data. This includes monitoring sunspot clusters that can induce geomagnetic storms affecting Earth, potentially causing aurora borealis sightings as far south as mid-Wisconsin. Such research not only enhances our knowledge of solar dynamics but also aids in predicting and mitigating the impacts of solar storms on our planet.
Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics at SIU, emphasizes the significance of this work. He notes that understanding solar flares and their effects is crucial for safeguarding technologies such as satellites and power grids from space weather disturbances. Through ongoing research efforts, SIU Carbondale continues to play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the sun and its influence on Earth's environment and technology
