Advanced Composition Explorer

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Advanced Composition Explorer

• Measuring the Solar Wind and Solar Flares

Oscar Puente Mentor Dr. Paul Marchese
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Research Findings

• The solar wind contains more low energy particles
  than it does those of higher energies
• These particles can escape the suns gravity more
  easily
• They require less energy to be excited and shot
  away from the sun
• Electrons are more abundant in the solar wind
  than protons, and they travel more quickly
• Electrons weigh less than protons and therefore
  require less energy to enter the solar wind
• Elements of higher weights (He, O, Fe) are only
  present in the solar wind during times of great
  solar activity
• They weigh more than H ions and electrons

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Future Work

• Compare solar wind data from ACE to
  magnestosphere/ionoshphre data from the Earth
• Find out how the solar wind affects the earths
  magnetic fields
• Find predictable patterns in changes caused by
  the solar wind