According to researchers from the University of Lowa, unidentified turbulence exists in space which has been measured directly in a laboratory, according to eurekalert.org.
"We have presented the first experimental measurement in a laboratory plasma of the nonlinear interaction between counter-propagating Alfven waves, the fundamental building block of astrophysical turbulence," lead author of the study Gregory Howes, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Iowa, said according to eurekalert.org.
Howes further explained how turbulence in space heated the sun and the solar corona.
"Turbulence is not restricted to environments here on Earth, but also arises pervasively throughout the solar system and beyond, driving chaotic motions in the ionized gas, or plasma, that fills the universe," Howes said. "It is thought to play a key role in heating the atmosphere of the sun, the solar corona, to temperatures of a million degrees Celsius, nearly a thousand times hotter than the surface of the sun.
"Turbulence also regulates the formation of the stars throughout the galaxy, determines the radiation emitted from the super massive black hole at the center of our galaxy and mediates the effects that space weather has on the Earth."
The "gusty winds" can not only affect satellite communications, air travel and the electric power grid, but can also lead to interesting auroras at the north and the south poles of the earth.
Howes also said the gusty winds and turbulence in space are directed by Alfven waves.
"Nonlinear interactions between Alfven waves traveling up and down the magnetic field are a fundamental building block of plasma turbulence," said Howes, as they multiply when collided.
These findings were published in an online edition of the journal Physical Review Letters.
