The Solar Wind Protons in the corona of the sun (about 10,000 km
above the photosphere), where temperatures can exceed 1,000,000°Kelvin, can receive enough
energy to break the orbit of the sun. These protons have an
average speed of 145 km/s. Though this is very fast, the escape
velocity of the sun is
approximately 618 km/s. Only some particles can achieve this speed; they
do so by following the magnetic field lines of the sun. Protons
and electrons that escape the
sun`s gravitational pull
form what is called the solar wind.
About 1,000,000 tons of matter are released
from the sun every second via this route.
These particles stream out into space, where they interact with
astral bodies in their path, including earth.