Scientists have developed a way to produce models of where the magnetic field lines are several times each day.
Here we have created a time-lapse version of these models over four days (2-3 each day) to give you a peek at how these change over time. The spiraling arcs of magnetic field lines emerge from active regions and connect back to areas with the opposite polarity. The field lines are more concentrated where regions are more magnetically intense. And of course, they rotate with the rotation of the Sun.
Credit: NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory Larger image
