Coronal Mass Ejections

A Coronal mass ejection (CME) is a massive cloud of hydrogen ions that is ejected from the surface of the Sun when stored energy is suddenly released. The CME produces a cloud of high energy particles traveling at supersonic speeds (500-2000 km per second). When a CME is ejected towards Earth it reaches us within a day or two. The impact of the CME on the Earth causes a disturbance to the Earth’s magnetic field.