SPACE WEATHER

The main drivers of space weather

• Solar Flares: Intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation (like X-rays and radio waves) that travel at the speed of light, reaching Earth in minutes and causing radio blackouts.

• Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Massive expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona that take one to a few days to reach Earth. When a CME hits Earth's magnetic field, it causes a geomagnetic storm.

• Solar Wind: The continuous stream of charged particles flowing out from the Sun.

Providing timely warnings - from several minutes for a solar flare to 24 hours for a CME - allows operators of power grids, airlines, and satellites to take mitigation steps and secure the safety of infrastructure and reduce costly damage.

Societal impacts

Power Grid Infrastructure

Geomagnetic storms can induce huge electrical currents in long conductors on Earth, potentially damaging or destroying high-voltage power transformers and leading to large-scale, prolonged power grid blackouts.

Satellite Operations

High-energy particles can damage satellite electronics, degrade solar panels, and cause surface charging, leading to temporary malfunctions or the complete failure of essential communication and navigation (GPS).

Aviation

Disturbances in the ionosphere can disrupt GPS accuracy and interfere with high-frequency radio communication vital for long-haul commercial flights and polar routes. Solar flares can also significantly increase radiation levels in the atmosphere, posing a risk to passengers and crew.

Human Safety 

Forecasting is crucial for warning astronauts about intense radiation storms, allowing them time to take shelter to avoid potentially lethal radiation exposure.