SPACE WEATHER
Space weather describes conditions in the region of space close to earth especially the presence of electromagnetic radiation and charged particles emitted by the sun that can affect technology with the potential to endanger human life or health. Space weather includes solar wind, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. Solar flares affect the ionosphere with magnetic energy disrupting satellites, communication equipment, and radio navigation.
Heliophysics is the science of space weather. The earth’s magnetic field can be disrupted by solar flares and storms that create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) damaging electronic devices, communication systems, power grids, and global positioning systems. Magnetic storms around our plant affect earth’s magnetosphere, upper atmosphere and disrupt our technology infrastructure. In addition to communication disruptions and power line surges, radiation hazards, orbital satellite degradation and oil pipeline corrosion are also impacted by magnetic storms.
U.S. Power Grid System
Space weather forecasting is conducted by NASA partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the information is available to the public through websites and apps. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is the nation’s official source for space weather solar and geophysical event alerts, watches, and warnings. They study the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, solar flares, CMEs, and the solar wind. NASA also maintains a fleet of heliophysics spacecraft to monitor the sun, geospace, and the environment between the sun and the Earth.
The Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from EMP recently published a report with recommendations to protect the nation’s power grid and other critical infrastructure like high voltage transformers and the SCADA system.
State-Owned Facilities and Insured Value
CASE STUDY
Technological infrastructure affected by space weather
In the mid-1800's disruptions of the telegraph system by solar flares were recorded including one event on September 2, 1859 when telegraph service was disrupted for several days by a severe solar storm.
When radio was invented in the early 1900's operators noticed that the sun interfered with radio transmissions.
A geomagnetic storm CME ejected from the sun on March 9, 1989 caused transformer failure and the collapse of the Hydro-Québec power network on March 13, 1989 leading to a nine hour blackout that affected over 6 million people.
In the 1960's space weather caused problems including outages and loss of data for weather satellites. The term space weather was coined to define this solar activity.
Magnetic storms also cause:
- Aurora borealis, the northern lights, and aurora australis, the southern lights
- Communication disruptions
- Radiation hazards to orbiting astronauts and spacecraft
- Current surges in power lines
- Orbital satellite degradation
- Corrosion of oil pipelines
As society's reliance on technological systems grows, so does our vulnerability to space weather. The ultimate goal in studying space weather is to develop the ability to foretell events and conditions on the Sun before they reach Earth to warn the public and affected infrastructure about space weather events that may produce potentially harmful effects on society and the economy. If we can create a warning system with sufficient advanced notice and reliable accuracy then preventive or mitigating actions can be taken.