Monster Solar Tornadoes Discovered

astroengine writes "For the first time, huge solar tornadoes have been filmed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) swirling deep inside the solar corona — the sun's superheated atmosphere. But if you're imagining the pedestrian tornadoes that we experience on Earth, think again. These solar monsters, measuring the width of several Earths and swirling at speeds of up to 300,000 kilometers (190,000 miles) per hour, aren't only fascinating structures; they may also trigger violent magnetic eruptions that can have drastic effects on our planet. 'These tornadoes may help to produce favorable conditions for CMEs to occur,' said Xing Li, solar physicist at Aberystwyth University and co-discoverer of the phenomenon."

Comments

From behind the fire shield....

[Shotgun]

Are these tornadoes made worse by AGM?

I suppose this rules out ....

[PPH]

... establishing mobile home parks on the sun.

F5 is so 2010

[Dr. Gamera]

Might need a new Fujita scale... forget F5, say hello to F4000!