In the solar system, the sun is surrounded by a stream of plasma particles called the solar wind. The solar wind extends from the sun’s surface out to the heliosphere, where it interacts with the interstellar medium. The solar wind has a wide range of effects on both planets and space objects.
The solar wind is made up of protons and electrons that are ejected from the sun’s atmosphere at high speeds. The average speed of the solar wind is 400 km/s, but it can reach speeds of over 1000 km/s in some cases. The temperature of the solar wind ranges from a few million degrees Kelvin near the sun to a few thousand degrees Kelvin at the edge of the heliosphere.
The presence of the solar wind has several effects on planets and other objects in space. For example, it affects their orbits, as well as their climates and atmospheres. Additionally, when charged particles from the solar wind interact with dust grains in planetary atmospheres or on surfaces exposed to space, they can create static electricity or “space weathering” effects.
Solar winds also play an important role in shaping planetary surfaces and affecting atmospheric escape rates. On Earth, for example, they are thought to be responsible for stripping away our planet’s upper atmosphere over time. They can also cause aurorae (Northern/Southern Lights), as well as disruptions to communications and navigation systems when particularly strong gusts interact with Earth’s magnetic field.