Just what the heck is a solar BURP?

I saw images on BBC's Newsround yesterday of something they called a solar "Burp".

To me it looked just like a solar flare but the difference being that the plasma ejected from the suns surface formed a bubble/ball.............and broke away from the solar surface.

Basically this bubble/ball of solar plasma was free floating completely detached from the solar surface......................

They said that such events can knock out satellites around the earth and disrupt earthly communincations..............

I know solar flares can do this.

I just have never seen or heard of a solar burp before.

Anyone wanna englighten me (and others)?

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) I presume is what they mean??

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronal_mass_ejection

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) I presume is what they mean??

That's pretty much what i thought they meant but the image they showed...........showed a fully rounded globular circle of solar plasma floating freely of the solar surface a few million miles from the solar surface.

It was perfectly round and completely detached from the solar surface.

The only thing i know to compare it to is a lava lamp.......where globs of "lava" float away from the bottom of the lamp.

It really was strange.

I saw images on BBC's Newsround yesterday of something they called a solar "Burp".
To me it looked just like a solar flare but the difference being that the plasma ejected from the suns surface formed a bubble/ball.............and broke away from the solar surface.
Basically this bubble/ball of solar plasma was free floating completely detached from the solar surface......................
They said that such events can knock out satellites around the earth and disrupt earthly communincations..............
I know solar flares can do this.
I just have never seen or heard of a solar burp before.
Anyone wanna englighten me (and others)?

Yes, what Michael said, a Coronal Mass Ejection. Looks like the BBC is making up its own solar dictionary. CME's occur more frequently than you may think, perhaps once a day, year in, year out. It's only when they launch themselves in an unfavourable direction towards Earth that we sit up and take notice. A typical plasma ejection is around one billion tons. Some years ago, there was talk of a dedicated new satellite to provide early warning of CMEs but I don't think anything came of it.

Paul,

Michael addressed your query perfectly. Here is a photo of mine which may also help: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Solar-Prominences-0001.htm .... some activity is displayed here as well: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Solar-Filaments-0001.htm ...

It is disappointing that someone (ex. BBC) complicates something much more than is actually necessary. :evil:

Remember, Newsround is a kids show. A solar burp strikes me as a much more child-friendly description than coronal mass ejection or CME. That would make no sense at all to a child, but a solar burb, that they'll get!

Bart.