Weathering The Storm

The airless expanse of space can’t be contained within the realms of our understanding. Even though Earth and Space are interconnected, our intellectual grasp of space is minimal at best. The concept of space weather has a direct impact on human society, affecting health and technology.

The Timeline

The term ‘space weather’ first appeared in 1988 in Tsugunobi Nagai’s meteorologist research paper, ‘Space Weather Forecast’. The term ‘Solar-Terrestrial Physics’ was eventually changed to ‘Space Weather’. It was thought that this new, appealing wording would help raise awareness and funding. By the end of the 20th century, Space Weather became widely used around the globe.

The true origins of space weather are even earlier in history, with the emergence of solar-terrestrial physics. Heinrich Swabe spent 17 years studying sunspot cycles. In 1843, he showed his findings, but his discovery wasn’t widely known until 1851, when Alexander von Humboldt published his ‘Kosmos’ paper, highlighting Scawabe’s discovery.

The first space weather prediction was verbal. Swedish astronomer Pehr Wargentic included his weather prediction in a 1750 paper. It took about a century for the first space weather predictions to be included in published research papers.

The Union Radio Scientifique International organisation began studying radio science in 1919. It soon discovered that radio signals are often affected by the environment of outer space. Radio-cosmic bulletins, known as URSIgrams, became commonplace, informing listeners of these changes and setting the path for space weather broadcasts in the future.

The Definition

The difference between our weather on Earth and space weather is quite vast. We’re used to weather being influenced by atmospheric conditions such as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, and wind. Space lacks air and water, so the weather out there won’t include wind or precipitation.

Wind is a weather element in space. However, wind in space doesn’t involve air. The energy and plasma from the sun are the origin of space’s solar winds. If the subject of space appeals to you, why not head over to this casino online, offering top-rated space-themed games and more, or maybe a visit to The Planetarium for some awe-inspiring fun.

The Space Storms

The sun’s volatile surface can emit solar flares and coronal mass ejection. These solar phenomena can release bursts of energy in the direction of the Earth, generating space weather storms. The Earth has a magnetosphere - a magnetic field that provides a protective layer around the Earth.

When solar winds flow in the direction of Earth, they are usually deflected by this magnetosphere. This doesn’t always happen, sometimes and the solar energy collides with the magnetosphere. The earth's atmosphere contains atoms that crash into the radiation particles, resulting in space weather storms.

Auroras are eye-catching light shows - an end-product of this space phenomenon. Interference from space weather elements can cause issues with radio and GPS communications, spacecraft travel, satellite electronics, and electrical power circuits. The uncertainty of space weather can sometimes have unpredictable outcomes.

The Monitoring

Keeping a close eye on space weather forecasts is important. As technology develops, forecasting space weather can become even more accurate. Space weather predictions can ensure safer space exploration and strive to protect communication and electrical grids by implementing preventative measures when necessary.