Simulation of the Sun's atmosphere

This is a computer simulation of the Sun's atmosphere. The red lines are magnetic field lines that are shaken by Alfvén waves as they propagate upwards from the surface of the Sun. The colouring of the gas in the lower part of the box shows the photosphere (green at bottom), chromosphere (chromosphere) and transition region (green and blue). Simulations such as these indicate that jostling of magnetic field lines by convective motions and sound waves at the surface and lower atmosphere of the Sun generates Alfvén waves with properties similar to those we observe with Hinode.