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 (http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/), Wind (http://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/wind.shtml), Polar (http://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/), and Geotail (http://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/geotail.shtml) spacecraft were all involved. More about this event... (http://www.windows.umich.edu/spaceweather/SOHO_proton_event.html)
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... (http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/books/apollo/S2ch3.htm)
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) (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/today.html) forecasts high-speed solar wind and solar particle events. SEC has a Space Weather Advisories (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/advisories/) page.
The ACE Real Time Solar Wind (RTSW) (http://sec.noaa.gov/ace/ACErtsw_home.html) 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.
December 18, 2006: Aurora over Iowa -- NASA GSFC APOD
December 15, 2006: ESA mission controllers react to solar flare (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMB49QJNVE_index_0.html) -- European Space Agency
December 15, 2006: Freak solar explosion disrupts satellites (http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2006/1812554.htm?space) -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
December 13, 2006: New instrumentation helps scientists better predict space weather (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061212091324.htm) -- ScienceDaily
December 12, 2006: Space weather "driver" discovered (http://astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c="a&id=4754) -- Astronomy.com
December 11, 2006: THEMIS probes relocate to Florida for Feb. 15 launch (http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/12/11_themis.shtml) -- UC Berkeley
November 17, 2006: Ulysses embarks on third set of polar passes (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMWPIUXJUE_index_0.html) -- European Space Agency
November 17, 2006: Ulysses starts new journey around the Sun's poles (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/audioclips/ulysses-20061117/) -- NASA JPL
November 8, 2006: A new dimension in solar research (http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2006/pressRelease20061106/index.html) -- Max Planck Institute
October 30, 2006: Space radiation threats to astronauts addressed in federal research study (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061025184743.htm) -- ScienceDaily
September 29, 2006: Space weather gear readied for the final frontier (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060922110613.htm) -- ScienceDaily
September 28, 2006: Instruments enhance space weather forecasts (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Instruments_Enhance_Space_Weather_Forecasts_999.html) -- SpaceDaily
September 27, 2006: Mind the gap: space scientists uncover causes of gap in Van Allen belts (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060926171157.htm) -- ScienceDaily
September 19, 2006: Automated shock detection and analysis software for real-time application (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ACENews/ACENews100.html) -- ACE News
September 13, 2006: Earth storms may lead to space storms (http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2006/1739710.htm?space) -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
September 6, 2006: Green aurora over Lake Superior -- NASA GSFC APOD
September 1, 2006: Solar sentinels (http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/01sep_sentinels.htm) -- Science@NASA
August 24, 2006: ESA's Cluster mission establishes why Earth's aurorae shine (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMRKHZ7QQE_index_0.html) -- ESA
August 17, 2006: NASA satellites will improve understanding of the Sun (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/aug/HQ_06294_STEREO_press_packet.html) -- NASA HQ
August 3, 2006: NASA selects radiation belt mission candidate for further study (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Selects_Radiation_Belt_Mission_Candidate_For_Further_Study_999.html) -- SpaceDaily
July 31, 2006: NASA selects teams for space weather mission and studies (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/jul/HQ_06286_SMD_SUN_RADIATION.html) -- NASA HQ
July 26, 2006: New camera enhances forecasting of Sun-generated storms (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/New_Camera_Enhances_Forecasting_Of_Sun_Generated_Storms_999.html) -- SpaceDaily
July 17, 2006: Our Sun's fiery outbursts -- seen in 3-D (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-07/ppa-p071706.php) -- EurekAlert!
June 26, 2006: NASA and NSF computers simulate Sun's corona (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/jun/HQ_06247_sun_corona.html) -- NASA HQ
May 29, 2006: Magnetic storms affect humans as well as telecommunications (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Magnetic_Storms_Affect_Humans_As_Well_As_Telecommunications.html) -- SpaceDaily
May 24, 2006: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab to build NASA's radiation belt storm probes (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid="19943) -- SpaceRef.com
May 23, 2006: UCF telescope used to predict, monitor space weather to launch on satellite Wednesday (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid="19906) -- SpaceRef.com
May 19, 2006: ESA's Cluster flies through Earth's electrical switch (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM8DA9ATME_index_0.html) -- ESA Portal
April 20, 2006: Weather under surveillance (http://astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c="a&id=4169) -- Astronomy.com
April 7, 2006: Collaboration improves solar storm forecasting (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Collaboration_Improves_Solar_Storm_Forecasting.html) -- SpaceDaily.com
April 5, 2006: Solar wind whips up auroral storms on Jupiter and Saturn (http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0604/05auroras/) -- SpaceRef.com
April 1, 2006: Probes witness a new facet of Earth's magnetic behavior (http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0604/01cluster/) -- SpaceRef.com
March 29, 2006: Green and black auroras over Norway -- NASA GSFC APOD
March 20, 2006: NOAA Space Environment Center: Earth's first defense against the Sun's fury (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2596.htm) -- NOAA News
March 13, 2006: Satellites to test tiny technology (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2006-03-13-st5-mission_x.htm?POE="TECISVA) -- USA Today
March 9, 2006: NASA spacecraft helps researchers see the Sun's far side (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/mar/HQ_06090_SOHO_sees_sun.html) -- NASA HQ
February 23, 2006: Solar flare hits Earth and Mars (http://space.com/scienceastronomy/060223_solar_flares.html) -- Space.com
February 22, 2006: Radiation "safe zone" migrates during solar cycle (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/safe_zone_shift.html) -- NASA GSFC
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 (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//workbook/page11.html) -- NASA IMAGE
Grades 7 - 9: Cosmic Radiation Creates Unfriendly Skies (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//workbook/page17.html) -- NASA IMAGE
Grades 7 - 9: Magnetic Storms From the Ground (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//workbook/page7.html) -- NASA IMAGE
Grades 7 - 9: Planning a Trip to Mars (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//workbook/page19.html) -- NASA IMAGE
Grades 7 - 9: Satellite Glitches and Cosmic Rays (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//workbook/page18.html) _- NASA IMAGE
Grades 7 - 9: Solar Storms and Satellites (http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//workbook/page16.html) -- 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 (http://phy6.org/Education/wnovstrm.html) Aurora above Chicago - from Dr. David Stern's The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere (http://www.phy6.org/Education/Intro.html)
JULY 14-16, 2000 (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/snapshots/July14-2000/) from the ACE Science Center (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/)
JULY 14-16, 2000 (ftp://space.mit.edu/pub/plasma/imp/www/july_15_2000.html) from IMP-8 (ftp://space.mit.edu/pub/plasma/imp/www/imp.html)
JULY 14-16, 2000 (http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/events/2000july14/) from ISTP
JUNE 8, 2000 (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/snapshots/June8-2000/) from the ACE Science Center (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/)
JUNE 6-9, 2000 (http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/events/2000jun6/) from ISTP
APRIL 6, 2000 (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/snapshots/April6-2000/index.html) from the ACE Science Center (http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/)
APRIL 4-7, 2000 (http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/events/2000apr4/) from ISTP
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