Carpet

[Christina.F]

I have been reading about the SOHO satellite and it mentioned a magnetic carpet.  Can anyone explain what this is?

[Vancanneyt Sander]

Can you post where you have read that? This way we can see in what context it was used.

in the mean time I’ll clean my Aurora carpet 😜

[Solarflaretracker200]

5 hours ago, Christina.F said:

 

I have been reading about the SOHO satellite and it mentioned a magnetic carpet.  Can anyone explain what this is?

 

It’s not what you think it is lol

[Christina.F]

From images on the SOHO nascom nasa website describing the satellite, one is a wallpaper and gives facts etc and mentions the "magnetic carpet".
I'm assuming it's probably the complete opposite and is more likely a magnetic blanket surrounding the Earth?

[Vancanneyt Sander]

The definition is as follows:

The Sun has a magnetic carpet. Its visible surface appears to be carpeted with tens of thousands of magnetic north and south poles joined by looping field lines which extend outward into the Solar Corona.

It’s likely the source of the coronal heating. 

A few examples are on this site: https://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/ssu/magnetic_carpet.html

[Christina.F]

Is it then possible that these north and south poles have an equal and opposite set of field lines below the surface of the sun? 

[Christopher S.]

1 minute ago, Christina.F said:

Is it then possible that these north and south poles have an equal and opposite set of field lines below the surface of the sun? 

The way you're thinking about it pretty close. Since it's a highly complex, highly energetic system we're talking about, the "blanket" can be thought of as the more broad-reaching and simple "side" of the complexities going on under the surface.