Isibonakude Esingavamile Sembula Izimfihlakalo Zelanga

SASITHATHE usuku lokuyophola endaweni epholile yaseLincoln National Forest eNew Mexico eseningizimu, sizama ukubalekela ukushisa kwasogwadule okwesikhashana, lapho sibona uphawu olwalusikhomba Endaweni Yokupopola izinto ezisemkhathini okuthiwa iSacramento eSunspot, eduze naseCloudcroft, eNew Mexico. Saba nesithakazelo sokufuna ukwazi, salibhekisa eSunspot.

Akukho noyedwa eqenjini lethu elincane owayejwayelene nendawo ephakeme ngamamitha angu-2 800, futhi sonke sasibambe umoya njengoba sasikhuphuka ngendlela siyobona izibona-kude ezigcinwe esiqongweni ezakhiweni ezakhiwe ngendlela engavamile. Sasilindele isakhiwo esikhethekile, ngakho asizange sidumale lapho sibona iSakhiwo Esikhethekile Esiphezu kwegquma, kodwa sathola ukuthi izivakashi zazingavunyelwe ukuba zingene. Khona-ke sabona isakhiwo esasibukeka ngendlela engavamile.

Kwakuyisakhiwo eside, esicije ngezansi, singunxantathu sisuka phansi enhlabathini, futhi izivakashi zazivunyelwe ukuba zingene. (Bheka isithombe ekhasini elilandelayo.) Ngokushesha sazithola sisendlini yokuhlola ezesayensi egcine isibona-kude eside esibekwe phezu kwesisekelo sensimbi phezu kombhoshongo ophakeme kakhulu kunathi. Izimpawu zasixwayisa ukuba singagibeli epulatifomu futhi siphazamise ukuzimelela kwalelithuluzi.

Ukwenza Ilanga “Lime Linganyakazi”

Endlini encane yokwamukela izihambi, imidwebo emibalabala yayichaza lokho okwakuhlolwa, futhi kwakuthakazelisa ukubona ukuthi lezizakhiwo eziyinkimbinkimbi zazakhelwe ukuhlola ilanga. Sabuza esinye sezazi zesayensi esisebenza lapho ukuthi ingabe lena kwakuyindawo yokufunda ngendlela yokuthola amandla elangeni. Wachaza ukuthi kwakungelona lolohlobo lokufunda kodwa kwakuwumsebenzi wokuhlola okuyisisekelo ukuze kuqoqwe ukwaziswa okuphathelene nelanga kanye nethonya lalo emkhathini womhlaba kanye nasezintweni ezizungeze ilanga. Futhi, ososayensi bahlola ingaphakathi lelanga ngokuqaphela njalo ingaphandle lalo.

Umqondisi wethu wachaza ukuthi lendawo yokupopola izinto ezisemkhathini yayikuleyondawo ngenxa yokuthi umoya wasentabeni ongenawo umhwamuko kanye nokungabibikho kokungcola kwenza kube yindawo enhle. Njengoba yamiswa ngo-1951, yayingeyokuqala yohlobo lwayo eyakhiwa eUnited States ukuba inikelelwe ukuhlolwa kwelanga. Umdwebo oseduze wasibonisa ukuthi lombhoshongo omkhulu wawuphakeme ngamamitha angu-41 phezu komhlaba kodwa kwakunamanye amamitha angu-59 esibona-kude ayengaphansi komhlaba. Ngakho-ke, isibona-kude sinengqikithi yobude obungamamitha angu-100 ubude benkundla yebhola likanobhutshuzwayo! Cishe akunalutho ngokuphelele phakathi kweshubhu lesibona-kude ukuze lapho ukukhanya kwelanga kungena kusibona-kude, kungaphazanyiswa umoya oshisayo. Lokhu kwenza izinto ezibonakalayo zicace ngendlela engavamile, kunikeze abacwaningi kanye nothisha umbono ovelele wengaphandle lelanga.

Isibona-kude sisonke (esinesisindo esingaphezu kwamathani angu-250) silenga ensimbini enozibuthe, evumela ukuba isibona-kude sizungeze ngokukhululekile ngesivinini esifana ncamashí nesokuzungeza komhlaba. Ngaleyondlela, isibona-kude singaqondiswa ngqó elangeni isikhathi eside, ukuze ilanga “lime linganyakazi” kusibona-kude. Siklanyelwe ukuqaphela nokuthwebula izici ezincane kakhulu zengaphandle lelanga, ingxenye ekhipha ukukhanya kwelanga okuthiwa iphotosphere, nasemkhathini ongaphansi welanga, ichromosphere.

IGrain Bin Dome

Njengoba sasiphindela emotweni yethu, sadlula isakhiwo esingavamile leso kithi esasibukeka njengesakhiwo esiyindingilizi sokugcina ukudla kwezinkomo. Futhi yilokho kanye esasiyikho! Sibizwa ngokuthi iGrain Bin Dome futhi sathengwa lapho kuqaliswa indawo yokupopola izinto ezisemkhathini kuSears Roebuck and Company; salungiswa ukuze sigcine isibona-kude sokuqala eSunspot. Ngalesosikhathi, kwakuhlelwa uhambo lwasemkhathini, futhi kwakudingeka ukwaziswa ngokuphathelene nendlela ilanga elithinta ngayo umkhathi womhlaba, ikakhulukazi ekudaleni iziphazamiso ezazingase zibangelwe isenzo esingavamile selanga.

Kamuva, ngo-1957, inhlangano engafuni-nzuzo, iAURA (Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.), yahlelwa ngokuphathelene neKitt Peak National Observatory eTucson, eArizona; iCerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory eLa Serena, eChile; neSpace Telescope Science Institute eBaltimore, eMaryland. IAURA yaba nomuzwa wokuthi ngokubambisana kwabezesayensi nokuhlanganyela ukwaziswa, bonke bangazuza ukuqonda okwengeziwe ngokuphathelene nelanga. Sase siqala ukubona ukuthi lendawo yokupopola izinto ezisemkhathini ezimele yodwa yayinamagatsha ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zomhlaba.

Ilanga Eliqhaqhazelayo

UDkt. Bernard Durney, umqondisi wezokucwaninga, ngomusa wazinikela ukuba aphendule eminye imibuzo ngokuphathelene nelanga. Wachaza ukuthi usebenza emkhakheni wesayensi ephathelene nokuzamazama kwelanga. Sasidinga incazelo yokuthi lokho kwakusho ukuthini. Kubonakala sengathi yaqalwa ukuhlolwa lapho eSacramento Peak. Wachaza: “Ilanga alizungezi nje kuphela kuyiaxis yalo kodwa lihamba nangezinye izindlela eziningi ezingahlolwa ngokubheka ingaphandle lalo ngokuqhubekayo nokubona izinguquko ezenzakayo. Kulezinguquko, singakha imiqondo ngokuphathelene nalokho okungenzeka ukuthi kuyenzeka ngaphakathi kwelanga bese-ke sihlela izindlela zokuhlola ukuze siqinisekise noma siphikise imibono yethu.”

Waqhubeka, “cishe ngo-1970, kwabikezelwa ukuthi ilanga lalizoqhaqhazela, noma livevezele. Kufana kakhulu nokuvevezela, noma ukundindizela, okwenzeka lapho kushaywa insimbi enkulu. Ungacabanga futhi ngomfanekiso wetshe elincane eliyimbokodwe eliphonswa esizibeni nangendlela elibangela ngayo ukuba wonke amanzi athinteke njengoba kuvela iziyingi zamaza endaweni eligxambukele kuyo. Umahluko uwukuthi amaza elangeni alijikeleza lonke ilanga nhlangothi zonke.”

Kwabonakala ukuthi lokhu kundindizela kwaqala emazingeni angafani, okunye ngaphansi futhi okunye kuvela ekujuleni ngaphakathi elangeni. Ngenxa yalokhu kuhlola, kuyaziwa ukuthi ilanga liyakhukhumala kancane bese lifinyela futhi cishe kanye ngehora, njengokungathi beliphefumula. Umcwaningi wakubona lokhu kunyakaza kwelanga okokuqala ngo-1975. Ngo-1976 izazi zesayensi zaseRussia zabika futhi ukukhuphuka nokwehla kwelanga.a Kwaze kwaba ngo-1979-80 lapho lokho kundindizela kwaqinisekiswa, ngokwengxenye Endaweni Yokupopola okuthiwa iSacramento.

UDkt. Durney waqhubeka, “Empeleni, ilanga lihamba ngezindlela eziningi eziyinqaba. Njengoba yonke into eselangeni isesimweni somoya, izingxenye zezinto ezakha ingaphandle lelanga zingazungeza ngokushesha kakhulu kunezinye. . . . Ngokulibuka ngokuqhubekayo ilanga njengoba senza lapha endaweni yokupopola izinto ezisemkhathini yaseSunspot, singathola indlela ingaphakathi lelanga elizungeza ngayo. . . . Njengoba ilanga lizungeza ngokushesha okwengeziwe enkabazweni yalo, kuningi ukuxubana okwenzeka ngaphandle, futhi lokhu kubangela izici eziningi eziyisimanga. Lokhu kuhamba okungavamile kubangela uzibuthe phakathi ekujuleni kwelanga, ophumela ngaphandle kwalo. Amachashaza amnyama elangeni ayisibonakaliso salezindawo ezinozibuthe.”

Ukuqaphela Ilanga Imini Nobusuku!

UDkt. Durney wachaza: “Ngempela sidinga ukuliqaphela ngokuqhubekayo ilanga ukuze sikwazi ukubona konke okwenzekayo nazo zonke izinguquko ezenzeka elangeni. Njengoba umhlaba uzungeza nsuku zonke, asikwazi ukukwenza lokhu sisendaweni eyodwa yomhlaba. Lokho kusho ukuthi kunesidingo sokuba nezindawo zokupopola ilanga kuwo wonke umhlaba.”

Okwamanje lokhu akunakwenzeka, kodwa uDkt. Durney wasitshela ukuthi, ngo-1980-81, abanye bezazi zesayensi abavela eSacramento Peak balibhekisa eAntarctic ukuze bayobheka ilanga phakathi nezikhathi ezintathu ezihlukaniswe izinyanga ezintathu sisinye. Ilanga alishoni kuze kuphele izinyanga ezintathu eAntarctic, khona-ke lingaqashelwa ngokuqhubekayo imini nobusuku ngesibona-kude esisodwa. Kwakuthakazelisa ukwazi ukuthi ukuqoqwa kwalokhu kwaziswa kwahlanganisa izindawo eziningi emhlabeni. Izazi zesayensi zinethemba lokuthi ngolunye usuku ziyokwazi ukuhlela konke ukuvevezela kwelanga futhi zikuchaze ukuze ziqonde ukuthi yini eyenzekayo ngaphakathi kulo. Abacwaningi manje banamathemba okwakha izindawo zokupopola izinto ezenzeka emkhathini eziningi kuwo wonke umhlaba ukuze bakwenze lokhu.

Ukuqhuma Kwamandla Nendilinga Enemibalabala Evezwa Ukukhanya Kwelanga

“Ukuthi yini enye ehlolwayo lapha eSacramento Peak?” kwaba umbuzo wethu olandelayo kuDkt. Durney. Wasitshela ngokuqhuma kwamandla elanga. “Lokhu kuqhuma okukhulu kwamandla okuvela elangeni kufinyelela [amakhilomitha] ayizigidi emkhathini, kukhiphe izilongotsha eziphazamisa ukuxhumana ngamaza omsakazo lapho kufika emhlabeni. Kukhona futhi ukugeleza okuqhubekayo kwezilongotsha eziphuma elangeni ezibizwa ngokuthi umoya welanga. Lokhu kunciphisa ijubane lokuzungeza kwengaphandle lelanga, okuthinta ukuzungeza okwenzeka phakathi ekujuleni kwelanga. Umphumela uwukuthi njengoba ilanga liba neminyaka eyengeziwe likhona, lizungeza kancane ngokwengeziwe. Ukuthi ingaphakathi lelanga lisabela kanjani ekuncipheni kwesivinini sengaphandle lalo enye yezinto esiyihlolayo lapha.”

Okunye ukuhlola okwenziwa endaweni yokupopola izinto ezisemkhathini kuhlanganisa ukuthatha izithombe nsuku zonke zendilinga enemibalabala ezungeze ilanga. Lezithombe zembula indlela ukushisa okuzungeze ilanga okushintshwa ngayo nsuku zonke. Kunemidwebo eyenziwayo ebonisa amabanga ahanjwa ukushisa okusezingeni eliphakeme kusukela elangeni. Lemidwebo ishintsha nsuku zonke futhi inikeze ukwaziswa okuwusizo kubantu abahamba emkhathini.

Indima Ebalulekile Yelanga

Amandla avela elangeni ayadingeka ukuze ukuphila kuqhubeke emhlabeni. Ayasithinta, athinta indlela esibona ngayo, kanye nezitshalo nezilwane zasemhlabeni. Ukuhlola okwakhishwa ngo-1979 kubonisa ukuthi kunobufakazi bokuzungeza okuthatha iminyaka engu-22 kwesomiso eUnited States esentshonalanga okubonakala kuhlobene ngandlela-thile nokuzungeza okugcwele kwamachashaza amnyama elanga okuthatha iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-22. Lesi esinye isizathu esenza umsebenzi welanga uthakazelise kanye nethonya lalo elinokwenzeka esimweni sezulu.

Ngawo-1950 Indawo Yokupopola yaseSacramento yayiphakathi kwezokuqala ezasiza ekutholeni isilinganiso sokushisa kwelanga okusemkhathini, okuyingqikithi yamandla afinyelela into esemkhathini eqhele njengomhlaba elangeni. Ngokunokwenzeka okubaluleke kakhulu ukuthi isilinganiso sokushisa kwelanga emkhathini singahluka kangakanani.

Amachashaza amnyama elanga angesinye sezici ezithakazelisa kakhulu zelanga futhi iwona asithintayo emhlabeni. Amachashaza amnyama elanga aqala ukubonwa uGalileo. Kamuva kwatholakala ukuthi umjikelezo wamachashaza amnyama elanga uthatha iminyaka eyi-11 nokuthi umjikelezo ophelele wamachashaza amnyama elanga unezinkathi ezimbili eziyiminyaka eyi-11 zomsebenzi wamachashaza amnyama elanga. Njengoba uDkt. Durney achaza: “Amachashaza amnyama elanga ayizindawo ezinozibuthe. Amnyama ngenxa yokuthi avimbela ukuhamba okudlulisela amandla. Ukuqhuma kwamandla elanga kucatshangelwa ukuthi kubangelwa ukuphela kwalezindawo ezinozibuthe ngaphandle elangeni, kamuva okudedela isilinganiso esikhulu samandla asithintayo ngokuphazamisa amaza omsakazo nangokwenza izingxenye zomkhathi wethu zibe nogesi. Lamandla futhi abangela lokho okubizwa ngokuthi ukukhanya kwasenyakatho kanye nokukhanya kwaseningizimu, noma ama-aurora, okuyinto eyisimanga esintwini kuwo wonke umlando.”

Ukuhlola ilanga kungasiza futhi ekubikezeleni lapho kuzoba khona ukuphazamiseka kwesikhashana kwendawo enozibuthe yasemhlabeni emkhathini wethu lapho kukhona okwenzekile emabaleni amnyama elanga. Lokhu kuthinta izindlela zokuxhumana emhlabeni kanye nemisebenzi encike ekuxhumaneni okuhle ngamaza omsakazo, njengohambo lwezindiza. Ngenxa yezindleko eziphakeme zokuthumela ngamaza elanga, ukuxhumana okuningi kusenziwa ngokuthumela ngamaza omsakazo okwenziwa phansi emhlabeni. Amandla adedelwa amachashaza amnyama elanga aphazamisa ingaphandle lezilongotsha ezenziwe zaba amaion ezizungeze umhlaba eziphindisela emuva emhlabeni amaza omsakazo. Lapho ingaphandle lamaion lingasebenzi, izigijimi zomsakazo ziyalahleka.

Kuningi okudingeka kwaziwe ngokuphathelene nokukhanya kwelanga. Izitshalo eziveza ukudla kwethu zincike ekukhanyeni kwelanga ukuze zakhe ushukela namanye amakhemikhali ekudleni kwethu. Izinqubo zamakhemikhali abangelwa ukukhanya kwelanga zisenza sikwazi ukuthwebula izithombe kokubili ngombala omnyama nomhlophe nangeminye imibala egqamile. Khona-ke, kubonakala kuwukuhlakanipha kwabaningi ukuba bafunde konke okusemandleni abo ngokuphathelene nalenkanyezi eseduze kakhulu kwethu.

Ohambweni lwethu olufushane lokuya eSunspot nangokuxoxa nochwepheshe, saqaphela ukuthi kuncane kakhulu esikwaziyo ngelanga. Abaningi bethu ilanga balazisa ngosuku olubandayo lwasebusika futhi bafise sengathi belingeshise kakhulu ezinyangeni zasehlobo, futhi yilokho kuphela abakwaziyo. Sakujabulela ukuthi nje nhlá ohlangothini oluyinkimbinkimbi ngokwengeziwe lwelanga. Sonke kwadingeka siphethe ngokuthi isintu ngempela siwukuqala nje kokuqonda izimangaliso zenkanyezi eyinzuzo kakhulu kithi, ilanga.—Inikelwe.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 24]

Asho Ukuthini Amazinga Okushisa Kwelanga?

Incwadi ethi Life and Death of the Sun, kaJohn Rublowsky, emakhasini 59 no-60 iyachaza: “Kukhona okuthile okumelwe sikuqonde ngokushiwo izinga lokushisa. Kunezinhlobo ezimbili ezingafani. Enye ibizwa ngokuthi ‘ikinetic temperature’; enye ngokuthi ‘iradiant temperature.’ Ikinetic temperature isilinganiso sokushisa esibangelwa ukunyakaza kwamamolecule esilongotsha. Lapho lokhu kunyakaza kwenzeka ngesivinini esikhulu, yilapho kuba nezinga lokushisa eliphakeme. Lapho sikhuluma ngamazinga okushisa omkhathi ozungeze ilanga, sikhuluma ngalekinetic temperature. Khona-ke, lokho esikushoyo ukuthi isilinganiso sezivinini zokuhamba kwezilongotsha ezisemkhathini ozungeze ilanga siyanda njengoba sikhuphuka sisusa engxenyeni engaphandle ekhanyisayo yelanga okuthiwa iphotosphere. Nakuba lezilongotsha zinamazinga okushisa aphakeme ngamadegree ayizigidi, ngeke zithose isikhumba sakho.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, iradiant temperature, iyisilinganiso sezinga namandla okushisa okukhishwa into ethile. Lapho sikhuluma ngamazinga okushisa ngaphakathi ekujuleni kwelanga, sisebenzisa leligama ngalomqondo. Izinga lokushisa lelangabi nalo liyiradiant temperature.

“Kodwa ngeke sisebenzise lomqondo wezinga lokushisa lapho sikhuluma ngomkhathi ozungeze ilanga. Uma izinga lokushisa lendilinga enemibalabala laliyiradiant temperature engamadegree [Celsius] angu-1 000 000, izingxenye ezizungeze ilanga zaziyokhanya kangangokuba sasingeke sikwazi ukuyibona ingxenye yokugcina ekhanyisayo yelanga okuthiwa iphotosphere. Empeleni, ukube kwakunjalo, izingxenye ezizungeze ilanga zaziyokhipha ukushisa okukhulu kangangokuba iPluto, okuyiplanethi eqhelelene kakhulu nelanga, yayiyoncibilika ngenxa yokushisa okukhulu. Kuyinto enhle ngathi ukuthi izinga lokushisa lengxenye ezungeze ilanga liyikinetic temperature kunokuba libe iradiant temperature.

“Lokhu akusho ukuthi akukho nhlobo ukushisa okukhishwa ingxenye ezungeze ilanga. Akukhona nje ukuthi ikhipha ukushisa okukhulu, kodwa ikhipha uhlobo olufaneleke kakhulu. Izingxenye eziphakeme kakhulu zalendilinga enemibalabala ezungeze ilanga zikhipha imisebe okuthiwa iX rays kanye nokunye ukukhanya okubonakalayo, futhi izingxenye ezingaphansi zikhipha ukukhanya okunemibala eminingi. Lokhu kushisa kubaluleke kakhulu ngomhlaba ngenxa yokuthi kuveza izigaba ezihlukahlukene zezingxenye ezizungeze umhlaba.”

[Ibhokisi/Umdwebo ekhasini 25]

Ilanga—Inkanyezi Yomhlaba

Ilanga liyimbuthuma enkulu enikeza ukushisa nokukhanya okusekela ukuphila emhlabeni wethu. Lelibhola elikhulu kakhulu elakhiwa ikakhulukazi ihydrogen gas likhulu kangangokuba lingasingatha eminye imihlaba engaphezu kwesigidi! Nokho, ezinkanyezini, aliyona enkulu kunazo zonke. Njengoba izazi zesayensi zicubungula, lomthombo wamandla ugcwele izinto eziningi ezingaqondakali. Ngokwesibonelo, “okuningi kokukhanya okubonakalayo kuvela endaweni ephakathi kwephotosphere enogqinsi olucishe lube amakhilomitha angu-100.” Nokho, iradius yelanga kuthiwa ingamakhilomitha angu-696 265.—The Sun, kaIain Nicolson.

Umklamo Welanga

ICORE—Indawo “eshisayo” yenucleus endaweni ephakathi nendawo nelanga lapho kutholakala khona amazinga aphakeme kakhulu okushisa.

IRADIATIVE ZONE—Amandla avela kuyicore adluliswa ngamaza kulendawo njengamagamma rays namaX rays.

ICONVECTIVE ZONE—Indawo epholile lapho amandla avela kuradiative zone ahamba kuyo ngendlela yokujikelezisa umoya oshisayo.

IPHOTOSPHERE—Lengxenye ezungeze ilanga ikhipha ngokoqobo konke ukukhanya kwelanga. Ngokwezinga elithile ungabona ngalé kwalengxenye, futhi “ingabonwa ngokujule ngamakhilomitha angamakhulu ambalwa.” (The Sun) Izinga lokushisa lingu-6 000 °C.

ICHROMOSPHERE—Ibonakala kuphela phakathi nokufiphala ngokuphelele kwelanga. Ingxenye yokusamoya enogqinsi olungamakhilomitha ayizinkulungwane ezimbalwa kodwa eshisa ngaphezu kwephotosphere, ecishe ibe ngu-10 000° C.

ICORONA—Ibonakala kuphela phakathi nokufiphala kwelanga ngokuphelele, lapho ibonakala njengezikhatha zentuthu kanye nezindwangu ezifinyelela emabangeni akude futhi ezinezinga eliphakeme kakhulu lokushisa.

[Umdwebo](Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IChromosphere

IPhotosphere

IConvective Zone

IRadiative Zone

ICore

[Umthombo]

From a sketch by National Optical Astronomy Observatories

[Umdwebo/Isithombe ekhasini 23]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Izibuko (ziphakeme ngamamitha angu-41 ukusuka phansi)

Indawo ephansi

Amashubhu omoya ayazungeza (amathani angu-250)

Amamitha angu-59

Amamitha angu-67 ngaphansi komhlaba

[Umthombo]

From a sketch by National Optical Astronomy Observatories

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Amachashaza amnyama elanga

[Umthombo]

Holiday Films

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Ukugqama kwelanga

[Umthombo]

National Optical Astronomy Observatories