WHAT IS THE CONVECTIVE ZONE?
The convective zone is the outer region
of the Sun's interior, extending from
roughly 70% of the Sun's radius all the
way to the visible surface.
Here, the plasma becomes sufficiently
opaque that radiation alone is no longer
an efficient way to transport energy.
Instead, energy is carried by large-scale
motions of the plasma.
Hot plasma rises toward the surface.
As it loses energy, it becomes cooler
and denser and eventually sinks again.
This creates enormous convection currents
that continuously transport energy outward.
THE CONVECTION CYCLE
01
HEATING
Energy from deeper layers heats
the surrounding plasma.
02
RISING
Hot plasma becomes less dense
and rises toward the surface.
03
COOLING & SINKING
Near the surface the plasma loses
energy, becomes denser and sinks.
CORE
RADIATIVE ZONE
CONVECTIVE ZONE
PHOTOSPHERE