Spaceweather

Space weather refers to the conditions in the space environment surrounding Earth that arise from solar activity and the solar wind. It encompasses phenomena in the solar corona, interplanetary space, the magnetosphere, and the ionosphere, and their interactions with technology and space-based systems. The main drivers are solar flares, coronal mass ejections, high-speed solar wind streams, and energetic particles from the Sun.

Solar flares are sudden bursts of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, while coronal mass ejections eject large clouds of magnetized plasma that can travel at hundreds to thousands of kilometers per second. When these disturbances reach Earth they interact with the magnetosphere, triggering geomagnetic storms, energizing energetic particles, and producing auroras.

Space weather can affect technology and infrastructure. Geomagnetic storms can induce currents in power grids, disrupt satellite operations and radio communications, degrade navigation signals, and increase radiation exposure for astronauts. During intense events, high-altitude aviation routes near polar regions may also see elevated exposure to energetic particles.

Monitoring and forecasting rely on a network of ground-based observatories and space missions. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issues watches and alerts; space missions such as SOHO, SDO, and DSCOVR provide solar imagery and solar wind data. Real-time data and physics-based models are used to forecast storms, support satellite operators, aviation, and space missions, and guide mitigation strategies.