The total number of spicules on the solar surface and their role in heating and mass balanace in the solar corona

Abstract

A critical review of determinations of the number of spicules is presented, and the role of both classical and Type 2 spicules in heating and mass balance in the corona is considered. The total number of Type 2 spicules is determined, together with the upward fluxes of energy and mass to which they give rise. The total number of Type 2 spicules on the solar surface is found to be ~10⁵, close to values obtained in other studies. The associated particle flux toward the corona is 2.5 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻² s⁻¹, an order of magnitude lower than the corresponding flux for classical spicules. The associated energy flux is 10⁴ erg cm⁻² s⁻¹, an order of magnaitude lower than estimates obtained in other studies. The results indicate that Type 2 spicules can supply the mass lost from the corona, but are not able to fully explain coronal energy losses.