Other impacts are experienced on the electricity grid, satellite and cellular communications systems, avionics and the radiation doses experienced by air passengers and crew. For example, high energy particles associated with space weather can cause satellite failures and can render satellite-based navigation systems, such as GPS - a now ubiquitous technology - useless for several days. However, space weather must be accommodated in the design and operation of an increasing number of modern technological systems. Dr Sean Elvidge - Associate Professor of Space Environment & Head of Space Environment Research (SERENE)Īside from pictures of the aurora, space weather does not feature in the everyday news and goes largely unrecognised by the public. High energy particles associated with space weather can cause satellite failures and can render satellite-based navigation systems, such as GPS - a now ubiquitous technology - useless for several days. In the most severe storms, famously during the “Carrington Event” in 1859, the aurora were observed in the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands! But the aurora are not the only consequence of space weather. During these storms the aurora can be seen at lower latitudes which is why they have been visible over the UK recently. Minor storms, like we have experienced this week, are relatively common, a major storm may occur once or twice per decade and solar ‘superstorms’ occur once every 100 to 200 years. ![]() Just like terrestrial weather, space weather is impacted by storms. ‘Space Weather’ is a term which describes variations in the near-Earth space environment and the influence that has on technology and human life and health. Enough vibrating molecules, enough emitted light and voilà, we get the aurorae (Borealis or Australis), which typically form in the high latitudes above 65 degrees north or south, but this can vary significantly. The colour of this light depends on the amount of energy involved and the altitude of the interaction. During these collisions some of the electrons energy is transferred to the molecules and, if the conditions are just right, cause them to vibrate and emit a tiny amount of light. ![]() ![]() However some of the high-energy electrons in the solar wind make it through the shield and can hit molecules in our atmosphere. Thankfully the Earth has a Star Trek-esque shield, the magnetosphere, protecting our atmosphere from being blown away. Dr Sean Elvidge - Associate Professor of Space Environment & Head of Space Environment Research (SERENE)
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