avaruussäälle

Avaruussää, also known as space weather, refers to the changing conditions in space, particularly in the Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere, that are caused by solar activity. This activity includes events like solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and solar wind variations. These phenomena release energetic particles and electromagnetic radiation into space.

When these particles and radiation reach Earth, they can interact with our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. This interaction can lead to a variety of effects. For example, strong solar storms can disrupt satellite operations by interfering with their electronics and causing drag that alters their orbits. Radio communications, especially those that rely on the ionosphere for propagation, can experience blackouts or degradation. Navigation systems like GPS can also be affected by disturbances in the ionosphere.

On the ground, severe space weather events can induce currents in long electrical conductors, such as power lines and pipelines, potentially leading to widespread power outages or damage. A particularly striking visual manifestation of space weather is the aurora borealis and aurora australis, or northern and southern lights, which occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Understanding and forecasting avaruussää is crucial for protecting our technological infrastructure and ensuring the safety of space-based activities.