coronal mass ejection

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a large-scale solar event involving an ejection of hot plasma that may accelerate charged particles and travel as far as the earth's orbit, preceded by a shock front that may create a magnetic storm on earth. CME

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coronal mass ejection British  

noun

1. a cloud of particles ejected from the sun's surface during a solar flare

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coronal mass ejection Scientific  

/ kôr′ə-nəl,kŏr′-,kə-rō′nəl /

1. A massive, bubble-shaped burst of plasma expanding outward from the Sun's corona, in which large amounts of superheated particles are emitted at nearly the speed of light. The emissions can cause disturbances in the solar wind that disrupt satellites and create powerful magnetic storms on Earth. They were first observed in the early 1970s, when photographs taken from satellites revealed coronal activity that could not be seen in images taken from Earth.

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Example Sentences

After a large solar eruption on the Sun earlier this week - known as a Coronal Mass Ejection - our atmosphere continues to be hit by increased solar energy.

From BBC

Even in a quieter year, it only takes one large solar flare or a coronal mass ejection directed towards Earth to produce a stunning Northern Lights display across the UK.

From BBC

A real-world example occurred on November 11, when the Sun produced a coronal mass ejection following an intense flare.

From Science Daily

A violent solar storm can generate an eruption of particles and magnetic fields, known as a coronal mass ejection, that if aimed directly at Earth could damage satellites and the power grid on the surface.

From Slate

Prof Ramesh says that if we are able to see what happens on the Sun's corona and spot a solar storm or a coronal mass ejection in real time, record its temperature at origin and watch its trajectory, it can work as a forewarning to switch off power grids and satellites and move them out of harm's way.

From BBC