Sunspots, Solar Storms, and Aurorae: Exploring Solar Maximum

About the Lecture

With dazzling aurorae lighting up the night sky across the US in recent months, the Sun's increasing activity has become more apparent than ever. These awe-inspiring and far-reaching light shows are tied to the increased solar activity as we move deeper into Solar Cycle 25. In this lecture, we will explore the dynamic behavior of our Sun and its 11-year solar cycle. Specifically, we will focus on the effects of solar maximum, a period of heightened solar activity that manifests through increased sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. Beyond generating spectacular aurorae, increased solar activity has the potential to disrupt and interfere with our technological infrastructure, including satellites, GPS, and power grids. I will also briefly discuss connections between the Sun's solar cycle and those observed in other stars. Lastly, I will summarize results from cutting-edge solar missions that reveal unprecedented insights into the behavior of our Sun.

Live stream URL can be found at the bottom of the EventBrite registration confirmation email.

Register for the lecture

About the Speaker

Dr. Oana Vesa is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Solar Group at Stanford University. Her current research focuses on using Rossby Waves -- natural waves that occur in rotating fluids -- to probe the solar interior and investigate their connection to the solar dynamo. After earning her B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Albion College, Oana obtained a Ph.D. in Astronomy from New Mexico State University. Her dissertation focused on characterizing the behavior of gravity waves (oscillations driven by buoyancy) and swirling vortex flows throughout the solar atmosphere using high-resolution, multi-wavelength observations in order to probe hard-to-measure parameters of the lower solar atmosphere. As a first-generation college graduate, Oana is committed to community outreach, passionately sharing her love for solar physics and engaging with diverse audiences to inspire interest in science.

Directions and Parking

This event will take place in the Hewlett Teaching Center (370 Jane Stanford Way) on the Stanford campus. Upon arrival, please check in in the foyer of the building and follow signs for Room 200.

The closest visitor parking is in the Via Ortega Garage and along the Stanford Oval. All parking is free in spaces marked Visitor, A, or C after 4pm unless indicated otherwise. Accessible parking is also available along the Stanford Oval.

If you plan to take public transportation, some lines of the Marguerite Shuttle connect between the Palo Alto Transit Center and the campus. You can get to the Hewlett Teaching Center by taking Line P (drops off at the Stanford Oval), Line X (drops off at the ChEM-H Building on Jane Stanford Way), and Line Y (picks up across from the ChEM-H Building on Jane Stanford Way). A complete list of shuttle schedules and route maps can be found here.