Solar wind

From Glossary of Meteorology



solar wind

The continuous outward flow of solar particles and magnetic fields from the sun. This flow varies in speed and strength due to effects from features such as coronal hole high-speed streams, co-rotating interaction regions, and coronal mass ejections. Slower regimes are generally less than 450 km s−1 and fast regimes are normally considered 450 km s−1 or greater. The ambient background solar wind averages from 375–400 km s−1.

Space Weather Prediction Center, 2018: Solar wind. Accessed 1 October 2018. Available at https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-wind.


Term edited 1 October 2018.


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