Chinese scientists discover new pattern of solar rotation

Chinese scientists have made a significant breakthrough in solar research through the use of their solar exploration satellite, the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE), which has led to the discovery of a new pattern of solar atmospheric rotation.

The team successfully generated a precise three-dimensional representation of solar atmospheric rotation for the first time ever, the findings of which were published in the renowned international journal Nature Astronomy on Thursday.

The data was obtained by the CHASE satellite, China's first solar scientific and technological experimental satellite which was launched in 2021.

Following an extensive study, researchers said they have obtained the world's first three-dimensional image of solar atmospheric rotation, unlocking more secrets about our sun.

Traditionally, as a sphere rotates, the higher the atmospheric altitude, the slower it moves. However, the research team discovered that as the solar atmospheric altitude increases, the sun's rotational speed also increases.

"Since the rotational changes caused by viscous effects should gradually decrease from the bottom to the top, there must be a force driving the rotation of the upper atmospheric layers. Therefore, this finding will have significant scientific implications for solar activity and the evolution of the sun," said Ding Mingde, principal investigator of the project and a professor at Nanjing University.

The journal said the results have important implications for understanding more about the subsurface processes of the sun and its atmospheric dynamics.

The CHASE satellite was launched in October 2021 and has a design life of three years. It is in place in a locked orbit around Earth keeping it in the same fixed position relative to the sun, enabling the craft to collect data and capture images.

The satellite also has the Chinese name of Xihe, which is the same name of the sun goddess who created the calendar in ancient Chinese mythology.