SPACE WEATHER FAQ
When questions about Space Weather are sent to SDO scientists we enter them into our FAQ. Please check the FAQ to see if your question has already been asked.
[+] What causes space weather and where do space storms occur?
Space weather starts at the Sun when a flare (a brightening of the Sun) occurs or a CME lifts off the surface. When the energy from either a flare or CME gets near the Earth it affects the upper atmosphere of the Earth (disrupting radio communication) and brings energetic particles into our environment. The particles can injure astronauts but they also damage spacecraft and disrupt power lines and pipelines on Earth
[+] How long do they usually last?
The solar storms last only a few minutes to several hours but the affects of geomagnetic storms can linger in the magnetosphere and atmosphere for days to weeks.
[+] How long have we known about space weather?
Space Weather is a new term that combines several research fields. Disruptions of the telegraph system by solar storms was seen in the mid-1800's. Radio operators knew that the Sun interfered with radio waves soon after radio was invented in the early 1900's. Problems (such as outages and loss of data) related to space weather were seen in weather satellites when they began operating in the 1960's. All of these problems come from the same source (solar activity) and space weather was invented to group the causes and effects into one subject.
[+] Who discovered SWx?
I don't know that a single person discovered space weather, but Lou Lanzerotti has been very active in saying we should think of space weather.
[+] How do we feel the effects of space weather?
We see the effects of space weather when our radios don't work, GPS navigation is not as accurate as we like, when the power lines fail, and when spacecraft are damaged. There are no direct effects on humans at the surface of the Earth.
[+] Does something shoot off the Sun during a solar storm?
Yes, either bright ultraviolet light from a flare or protons & electrons from a CME are shot off the Sun during a solar storm.
[+] Can astronauts get hurt if they are in space while a space storm is going on?
Yes, astronauts can be injured by the particles that leave the Sun. However, their spacesuits and spaceships absorb most of the harmful radiation. Small rooms with thicker walls will be used as shelters on interplanetary spaceships and at the surfaces of the Moon and Mars when the radiation is predicted to be at dangerous levels. Please visit the Space Radiation Analysis Group at NASA's Johnson Space Center to see how NASA anticipates and protects the astronauts.
[+] Would it effect astronauts as much if they were further away from the sun?
The effects when astronauts are farther from the Sun depend on what part of Space Weather you examine. The damage by flares and CMEs tends to weaken as you move away from the Sun. Once you leave Earth orbit the most dangerous energetic particles are galactic cosmic rays.
[+] Can you forecast space weather?
We try to predict when an active region could produce a flare or CME. We also try to predict when geomagnetic storms will affect the Earth. A website where these predictions are shown is at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). We also try to predict the space weather next month and next year, but that effort is only beginning.