Space Weather
"Knowledge is the antidote to fear."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson Space Weather in the News Space Weather Activities Past Geomagnetic Storms
The Sun's activity causes large changes in the Sun's plasma and energetic particle populations, and these changes are responsible for the "space weather" that affects Earth. Space weather can impact the upper atmosphere and may influence long-term climate trends. The affects are related to CMEs, SEPs, and coronal holes, the source of high-speed streams. The largest storms occur when a fast CME hits Earth shortly after its shock arrives.
In January 1997, for the first time, a coronal mass ejection was observed in real-time all the way from the Sun to its dramatic consequences at Earth four days later. The SOHO, Wind, Polar, and Geotail spacecraft were all involved. More about this event...
Magnetic storms produce many noticeable effects on and near the Earth, including the northern and southern lights. This photograph (right) of the Aurora australis (Southern lights) is from Spacelab 3. Photo courtesy of R. Overmyer, NASA. Geomagnetic storms (magnetic storms on Earth due to solar activity) produce the awe-inspiring Aurora borealis and Aurora australis -- the Northern and Southern lights. However, they can also cause a variety of highly undesirable consequences. Electrical current surges in power lines, interference in the broadcast of radio, television, and telephone signals, and problems with defense communications are all associated with magnetic storms. Odd behavior in air and marine navigation instruments has been observed, and a compass anywhere on Earth is certainly affected. These storms are known to alter the atmospheric ozone layer. Even increased pipeline corrosion has been attributed to them. Variations over the 11-year solar cycle in the intensity of the Sun's electromagnetic output at some wavelengths significantly affect the chemistry, structure, and dynamics of the Earth's upper atmosphere. Longer-term solar variations may be linked to major shifts in the global climate. Astronaut Edwin Aldrin walks on the lunar surface near the leg of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module. Courtesy NASA archives. Major solar activity is a very serious concern in space flight. Communications may be disrupted. Large solar disturbances heat the upper atmosphere, causing it to expand and create increased drag on spacecraft in low orbits, shortening their orbital lifetime. Spacecraft could potentially tumble and burn up in the atmosphere. Intense SEP events contain very high levels of radiation, more than a million times the normal daily dose of a human on Earth. Radiation sickness can result when humans are outside the protective magnetosphere of the Earth, as in missions to the moon and to Mars. Monitoring of astronaut's exposure to radiation began during Project Mercury and has continued through the current Shuttle Program. The space radiation environment is very different from that found on Earth. More about radiation dangers to astronauts - from NASA JSC... High-energy solar protons can produce increased radiation in the atmosphere at altitudes where supersonic aircraft fly. This is especially true for flights over the north and south magnetic poles, areas unprotected by the Earth's magnetic field, where the radiation has direct access to the atmosphere. To reduce the risk to aircraft crews and passengers, and reduce risk to the aircraft, routine forecasts and alerts are sent through the Federal Aviation Administration so that a flight in potential danger can consider what course of action to take to minimize radiation exposure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Environment Center (SEC) forecasts high-speed solar wind and solar particle events. SEC has a Space Weather Advisories page. The ACE Real Time Solar Wind (RTSW) experiment also produces on-line geomagnetic storm alerts. To learn a lot more about space weather, check out our question and answer page on space weather in our "Ask Us" feature. Other great space weather links:
Space Weather in the News
July 28, 2009: A floral aurora
corona -- APOD July 22, 2009: Lopsided lights -- Science News July 21, 2009: NASA's Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission takes a step closer to solving the mystery behind magnetic reconnection -- NASA July 20, 2009: Scientists look beyond Earth to understand auroras -- Science Daily July 10, 2009: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory arrives at Kennedy Space Center -- NASA July 8, 2009: APL part of international team expanding space weather radar network -- JHU APL June 3, 2009: New research contributes to defense of Earth's technologies -- Eurekalert June 3, 2009: Fake astronaut gets hit by artificial solar flare -- Science@NASA May 29, 2009: Waves in Earth's radiation belt get mapped -- Science Daily May 27, 2009: Magnetic tremors pinpoint the impact epicenter of earthbound space storms -- NASA May 27, 2009: Giant balloon to launch Sun-watching telescope -- Space.com May 26, 2009: Giant atmospheric crashes detected via auroras -- National Geographic May 8, 2009: SABER offers a new way to study Earth's ionosphere and the effect of geomagnetic storms -- NASA May 7, 2009: "Singing" electrons protect and threaten your TV and GPS -- NASA April 30, 2009: Magnetic twisters "dance" across Mercury, study says -- National Geographic April 30, 2009: Active Mercury -- Science@NASA April 29, 2009: Watching solar activity muddle Earth's magnetic field -- ESA April 24, 2009: Giant "space tornadoes" spark auroras on Earth -- National Geographic April 9, 2009: Autonomous Antarctic observatories gather space weather data -- NSF March 27, 2009: Cluster satellites investigate space turbulence -- Astronomy.com March 23, 2009: Space storm alert: 90 seconds from catastrophe -- New Scientist March 13, 2009: The day the Sun brought darkness -- NASA March 10, 2009: Join NASA in celebrating Sun-Earth Day 2009 -- NASA February 11, 2009: ESA extends missions studying Mars, Venus and Earth's magnetosphere [last article] -- ESA February 5, 2009: Auroras: What powers the greatest light show on Earth? -- New Scientist February 1, 2009: Auroral corona over Norway -- APOD January 30, 2009: Solar physics spacecraft launched by Russia -- Spaceflight Now January 21, 2009: Severe space weather -- Science@NASA January 19, 2009: Hiding from Jupiter's radiation -- Astrobiology January 8, 2009: NASA to study the radiation belts -- JHU APL January 7, 2009: Danger ahead as the Sun goes quiet -- New Scientist January 5, 2009: New study reveals hazards of severe space weather -- NASA December 25, 2008: Solar mission launch starts busy year for Russia's space agency -- RIA Novosti December 16, 2008: Sun often "tears out a wall" in Earth's solar storm shield -- NASA THEMIS December 8, 2008: Automated real-time shock analysis for space weather alerts -- ACE News November 21, 2008: Mars Express observes aurora on the red planet -- Science Daily November 19, 2008: Unusual auroras over Saturn's north pole -- APOD November 12, 2008: Cassini finds mysterious new aurora on Saturn -- NASA November 12, 2008: Rocket launching to investigate the northern lights -- Science Daily November 4, 2008: "Star Trek" shield may protect astronauts -- National Geographic November 4, 2008: May the force (field) be with you -- Scientific American October 30, 2008: Hot solar wind in cold outer space -- The Weather Channel October 27, 2008: Halloween storms of 2003 still the scariest -- NASA September 5, 2008: NASA to explore "secret layer" of the Sun -- Science@NASA August 19, 2008: Living with a star -- Science@NASA July 29, 2008: Timeline: The 1859 solar superstorm -- Scientific American July 28, 2008: Bracing the satellite infrastructure for a solar superstorm -- Scientific American July 25, 2008: The secrets of the northern lights -- Astronomy.com July 24, 2008: Aurora "power surges" triggered by magnetic explosions -- National Geographic July 24, 2008: NASA satellites discover what powers northern lights -- NASA HQ July 21, 2008: APL-led team wins NSF grant to develop new observatory for Earth's space environment -- JHU APL July 1, 2008: Solar Shield experiment aims to keep the power on -- NASA GSFC June 30, 2008: Satellites pinpoint Earth's auroral radio chatter -- Scientific American June 18, 2008: GPS inaccurate during space storms -- Space.com June 18, 2008: The mystery of Satern's double aurorae -- Sky & Telescope June 9, 2008: Radio waves from Earth clear out space radiation belt -- New Scientist June 5, 2008: Communications glitch delays Mars lander digging -- Physorg June 5, 2008: Military transmitter points to flare cure -- Australian Broadcasting Company May 29, 2008: NASA scientists' model reveals how plasma from superstorms affect near-Earth space -- NASA GSFC May 6, 2008: A super solar flare -- Science@NASA April 30, 2008: 4D ionosphere -- Science@NASA April 29, 2008: Is there a hidden order to the northern lights? -- New Scientist April 28, 2008: "Broken heart' image the last for NASA's long-lived Polar mission -- NASA GSFC April 24, 2008: Northern lights glimmer with unexpected trait -- AGU April 18, 2008: Design begins on twin probes that will study the radiation belts -- JHU/APL April 15, 2008: Sky delights over Sweden -- APOD April 14, 2008: Mission to Mars -- GSI April 5, 2008: Magnetic substorms from ground and space -- Science Daily April 2, 2008: Hinode: Source of the slow solar wind and superhot flares -- ESA March 20, 2008: Spring is aurora season -- Science@NASA March 6, 2008: Auroras in broad daylight -- Science@NASA March 5, 2008: Spring is aurora season -- Astronomy.com March 5, 2008: Scientists identify origin of hiss in upper atmosphere -- Eurekalert March 3, 2008: NASA's SDO mission to improve predictions of violent space weather -- NASA GSFC February 25, 2008: Killer electrons surf celestial tsunamis -- NASA GSFC February 13, 2008: SOHO data used for real-time space radiation forecasting -- ESA February 1, 2008: The first Explorer -- APOD January 31, 2008: New discovery on magnetic reconnection to impact future space missions -- Science Daily January 29, 2008: Space weather science rues cuts -- BBC January 7, 2008: 'Maverick' sunspot heralds new solar cycle -- New Scientist January 2, 2008: Third instrument for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory arrives at Goddard -- NASA GSFC January 1, 2008: Rays from an unexpected aurora -- APOD December 13, 2007: Earth's magnetosphere: On the ropes -- Sky & Telescope December 11, 2007: NASA spacecraft make new discoveries about Northern Lights -- Eurekalert December 11, 2007: Brain stem cells sensitive to space radiation -- Eurekalert November 29, 2007: Barren land: Why Venus is lifeless -- Economist November 28, 2007: UNH scientists report first findings on key astrophysics problem -- Eurekalert November 19, 2007: Aurora in the distance -- APOD November 13, 2007: Strange space weather over Africa -- Science@NASA September 30, 2007: Tiny animals exposed to outer space -- Science Daily September 12, 2007: Cluster and Double Star uncover more on bright aurorae -- Science Daily August 31, 2007: Scientists find elusive waves in Sun's corona -- Science Daily August 27, 2007: Flares from Sun's far side may affect space weather of inner planets -- Science Daily July 27, 2007: Killer electrons in space are now less mysterious -- Science Daily May 30, 2007: Radio 'screams' from the Sun warn of radiation storms -- EurekAlert! May 29, 2007: Screaming CMEs warn of radiation storms -- NASA GSFC May 25, 2007: Spacecraft aids in forecast of solar radiation storms -- NASA HQ May 25, 2007: The ions are coming! -- Science@NASA April 13, 2007: Cluster sees tsunamis in space -- SpaceDaily April 9, 2007: Aurora over Alaska -- NASA GSFC APOD April 4, 2007: Researchers find Global Positioning System is significantly impacted by powerful solar radio burst -- NOAA News March 30, 2007: Sun burp blasted ozone layer in 1859 -- Australian Broadcasting Company March 22, 2007: Hinode studies the Sun -- Astronomy.com March 21, 2007: Solar activity won't break drought -- Australian Broadcasting Company March 21, 2007: Clemson rocket launches test Alaskan auroras -- SpaceDaily March 15, 2007: UD physicist wins NSF Career Award for space weather research -- EurekAlert! March 14, 2007: THEMIS weighs in on the Northern Lights -- EurekAlert! March 2, 2007: Space weather in STEREO -- Astronomy.com February 20, 2007: THEMIS satellites put Berkeley physicist in pole position to study aurora like never before -- SpaceDaily February 19, 2007: International Heliophysical Year begins -- European Space Agency February 16, 2007: NASA THEMIS mission adds five spacecraft to the Sun-Earth flotilla -- European Space Agency February 9, 2007: Cluster - new insights into the electric circuits of polar lights -- European Space Agency February 7, 2007: NASA-European spacecraft swoops under Sun's pole -- NASA JPL February 2, 2007: Sophisticated ESA space weather tool under development -- European Space Agency January 30, 2007: Northern lights research enters final frontier -- SpaceDaily January 30, 2007: University of Alberta space research to solve aurora mystery -- SpaceDaily January 17, 2007: THEMIS will judge what causes highly dynamic aurora -- NASA GSFC January 5, 2007: US researchers study space weather -- SpaceDaily January 4, 2007: 1000th orbit for the Cluster mission -- SpaceDaily Space Weather Activities
Grades 5 - 8 (or 9 - 12 as an introductory activity): Space Weather and YOU! Introduction 1 -- NASA GSFC
Grades 7 - 9: Auroras and Magnetic Storms -- NASA IMAGE Grades 7 - 9: Cosmic Radiation Creates Unfriendly Skies -- NASA IMAGE Grades 7 - 9: Magnetic Storms From the Ground -- NASA IMAGE Grades 7 - 9: Planning a Trip to Mars -- NASA IMAGE Grades 7 - 9: Satellite Glitches and Cosmic Rays _- NASA IMAGE Grades 7 - 9: Solar Storms and Satellites -- NASA IMAGE Grades 9 - 12: Space Weather -- NASA GSFC Grades 9 - 12: Space Weather and YOU! Introduction 2 -- NASA GSFC Grades 9 - 12: Space Weather and YOU! -- NASA GSFC Past Geomagnetic Storms
NOVEMBER 6, 2001 Aurora above Chicago - from Dr. David Stern's The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere
JULY 14-16, 2000 from IMP-8 JULY 14-16, 2000 from ISTP
JUNE 6-9, 2000 from ISTP
APRIL 4-7, 2000 from ISTP
Click on images above to
learn more about them
A service of the Astrophysics
Science Division at NASA's GSFC
Questions and comments to: cosmicopia@cosmicra.gsfc.nasa.gov Curator: Beth Barbier, SP Systems Responsible NASA Official: Dr. Tycho von Rosenvinge Privacy Policy and Important Notices |
HOME In the News History Ask Us Great Links Glossary Site Map Search NASA |
Last modified: August 7, 2009
|