Solar wind contains more oxygen than previously believed

WASHINGTON - The solar oxygen abundance may be slightly higher than other recent studies have found, say researchers.

Oxygen is abundant in the Sun, yet the solar oxygen abundance has not been measured with high accuracy.

Von Steiger et al. use long-term solar wind data from the Ulysses spacecraft to measure the flux of oxygen ions, the flux of protons, and the ratio of the two.

The new measurements suggest that the solar oxygen abundance may be slightly higher than previously thought.

An accurate value for the solar oxygen abundance is important for interpreting helioseismological analyses and for understanding the chemical evolution of the galaxy and solar system.

The research paper was recently published in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL). (ANI)