solar wind
noun
: plasma continuously ejected from the sun's surface into and through interplanetary space
Examples of solar wind in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This program will discuss sunspots, solar winds, flares and coronal mass ejections.
—
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, represent waves of light from solar wind, creating a display of moving lights in the night sky.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 25 Mar. 2024
Geochemists have long questioned whether these gases came from primordial reservoirs or were added after our planet formed from irradiation by the solar wind or on helium-bearing meteorites.
—Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 2 Dec. 2023
Scientists can forecast the likelihood of aurora borealis by examining solar winds, though the Geophysical Institute notes that predictions are often less reliable than typical weather forecasts.
—Ty Roush, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The aurora are caused by the solar wind, charged particles from the sun, being accelerated down the field lines of the Earth’s magnetic field.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Shortly thereafter, scientists on the Parker team determined how magnetic reconnection may also cause the fast solar wind.
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
Solar activity includes phenomena like solar flares, coronal mass ejections and high-speed solar wind, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023
However, these sounds are elusive, occurring during specific conditions, and are most common during the solar wind's intense peaks in the 11-year cycle.
—The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2024
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, represent waves of light from solar wind, creating a display of moving lights in the night sky.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 25 Mar. 2024
Geochemists have long questioned whether these gases came from primordial reservoirs or were added after our planet formed from irradiation by the solar wind or on helium-bearing meteorites.
—Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 2 Dec. 2023
Scientists can forecast the likelihood of aurora borealis by examining solar winds, though the Geophysical Institute notes that predictions are often less reliable than typical weather forecasts.
—Ty Roush, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The aurora are caused by the solar wind, charged particles from the sun, being accelerated down the field lines of the Earth’s magnetic field.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Shortly thereafter, scientists on the Parker team determined how magnetic reconnection may also cause the fast solar wind.
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
Solar activity includes phenomena like solar flares, coronal mass ejections and high-speed solar wind, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023
However, these sounds are elusive, occurring during specific conditions, and are most common during the solar wind's intense peaks in the 11-year cycle.
—The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solar wind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1958, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near solar wind
Cite this Entry
“Solar wind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20wind. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
solar wind
noun
: the continuous radiation of charged particles from the sun's surface
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about solar wind
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