Source: China Meteorological Administration
On September 2, the first batch of high-precision, multi-band solar image of the "Dao Mingxing" Fengyun 3 E-star was officially released to the outside world! This batch of images shows the physical state of different levels and locations of the solar atmosphere, and people can better monitor and forecast the sun's activity level based on this. This function is also one of the features of Fengyun 3 E-star .
The theme of the observation image released to the public is "Stars Look at the Sun" , including: extreme ultraviolet images observed by the sun X-ray extreme ultraviolet imager and multi-day animation, X-ray images, and fine spectral radiation intensity of the ultraviolet-short wave infrared band observed by the solar irradiance spectrometer.
Fengyun 3 E-Star Sun Ultraviolet Image. Photo/National Satellite Meteorological Center
This animation made of the extreme ultraviolet image of Fengyun-3 E star shows the changes of corona from August 24 to 31, 2021. As the sun rotates slowly, the activity area on the sun, corona and other features are also presented in front of us one by one, like a magnificent picture. Flare is similar to lightning on Earth. Photo/National Satellite Meteorological Center
The sun is the driving source of changes in the earth's weather, climate and spatial environment. The external structure is divided into three layers, from the inside out, the photosphere, the chromosphere and the coronal layer. What people see with the naked eye is the photosphere , and the corona layer that most directly affects the earth's environment is the corona layer. Monitoring solar activity and capturing the process of solar eruptions can provide important scientific data for more accurate spatial weather forecasts.
Fengyun3E Star Sun X-ray Image. Photo/National Satellite Meteorological Center
The solar X-ray extreme ultraviolet imager installed on Fengyun-3 E is my country's first space solar telescope and the first solar imager in the world with two bands of X-ray and extreme ultraviolet. Observation data are used to monitor the activity of the solar corona, capture the solar storm outbreak process, predict changes in the earth's space electromagnetic field and charged particles, and warn of the impact of solar activity on infrastructure such as aerospace , communication navigation, power grid and oil pipelines.
solar irradiance spectrometer is my country's first space-based all-around spectrum hyperspectral observation instrument, which monitors the slight changes in the energy of the sun incident on the earth. It contains rich fine structures of the solar spectrum, which is of great significance for precise monitoring of the energy changes of the earth's climate system.
Fine-Yun 3 E star sun spectrum fine structure. Photo/National Satellite Meteorological Center
So, the question is here!
Ask
Don't you say meteorological satellite? Why pay attention to the sun?
The sun is the only star in the solar system. It not only affects the weather and climate of the earth, but also the "initiator" of all space weather phenomena. Space weather monitoring, forecasting and early warning is also an important task of the meteorological department. Therefore, the solar monitoring capability of Fengyun-3 E is particularly important.
Ask
Why do you want to see the sun from satellite ?
"Looking at" the sun from the earth, you can only see visible light from the sun. The X-rays and extreme ultraviolet band light that directly affect the earth's space environment will be absorbed by the earth's atmosphere and cannot be observed on the ground. However, satellites are not restricted by sunshine time, weather conditions and atmospheric interference, and can monitor the sun's "every move" all day, all day, and all spectrum.
Query
What impact does solar activity (space weather) have on us?
flares from the sun and coronal mass ejection, etc., will affect the earth's magnetic field and ionosphere , which may interfere with artificial satellites, affect navigation and positioning accuracy, cause radio communication interruption, and may even cause power grid failures and lead to large-scale power outages. In addition, space weather will have an impact on its safety during the flight, operation of manned spacecraft , and activities such as astronauts' departure.
Therefore, we need to always pay attention to solar activities, capture the process of solar outbreak, and provide important scientific data for more accurate space weather forecasts.
Query
Fengyun 3 E star brings to my country's space weather business?
Carrying out space weather monitoring is one of the main tasks of Fengyun 3 E. It is equipped with 6 instruments such as solar X-rays and extreme ultraviolet imagers and solar irradiance spectrometers that can be used in space weather services.
Currently, my country mainly uses foreign satellite data to monitor solar storms, predict and warn of solar outbreaks, etc., to provide space weather guarantee services for relevant users. After Fengyun 3 E-Star X-ray and extreme ultraviolet imager are put into operation, they can provide independent and controllable observation data for the current business and get rid of their dependence on foreign data. In addition, observation data can also provide data support for research and development and inspection for my country's numerical forecasting model of space weather.
Query What is the use of the images obtained by
X-EUV imager?
Solar X-ray Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (Solar X-ray Extreme Ultraviolet Imager) is referred to as X-EUV imager for short. The sun has an atmosphere like the earth. The outermost atmosphere of the sun is called the corona. The corona is usually observed in extreme ultraviolet and X-ray bands due to its high temperature.
The sun's X-rays and extreme ultraviolet images taken from space can be used to observe various activities in the outermost atmosphere of the sun - the corona. Just like we need to pay attention to the internal activities of the earth's atmosphere, this will allow forecasters to forecast space weather more timely and accurately.
Question What is the significance of combining
X-ray and EUV band observation?
X rays can see higher temperature coronal gases than the extreme ultraviolet band; the extreme ultraviolet band can see lower temperature characteristics such as dark bars and coronal holes more clearly. By combining observation data from two different bands, solar bursts can be monitored more comprehensively and effectively.
Finally, dear, what is Fengyun 3 E star? Let’s first review this video
video: Hello, star Dawn! At 7:28 on July 5, Fengyun 3 E star, Fengyun 3 E star, known as the "Star of Dawn", was successfully launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, , which is known as the "Star of Dawn" on the Long March 4 C carrier rocket. It is reported that Fengyun 3 E is equipped with 11 remote sensing instruments, which can monitor various elements such as three-dimensional atmosphere, oceanic wind farms, night light, the sun and the ionosphere, and will enhance the monitoring and analysis capabilities of weather, climate, atmospheric environment and space weather. At present, 10 instruments have been successfully started.
Fengyun-3 E-Satellite in orbit testing officially began on July 23, and it is expected that the satellite system testing will be completed and delivered to use by the end of 2021. At present, Fengyun 3 E satellite has been networked with Fengyun 3 C and D satellites. Therefore, my country has become the only country in the world that has the ability to network and observe three orbital meteorological satellites in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and has also improved the data autonomy rate.
Fengyun 3 E Star’s “new plan” is still in progress! It is expected that by the end of September, the China Meteorological Administration will also release atmospheric power and thermal field images of "Light Stars Look at the Earth"; by the end of October, the shimmer, infrared and hyperspectral images of "Light Stars Look at the Earth"; by the end of December, the first set of picture albums of "Light Stars Look at the Earth". stay tuned!
Expert consultant: Zhang Peng Hu Xiuqing Zhang Xiaoxin Tian Hui Zhou Guiping Bai Xianyong Yang Shuhong Sun Ling Li Jiawei Dunjin Ping Song Qiao
Author: Li Hui Wang Meili
