SOLAR STORM, what it is, causes and type
- 2. ALL ABOUT SOLAR STORM • A solar storm, also known as a geomagnetic storm, is a disturbance in Earth's magnetosphere caused by solar wind and solar flares emanating from the Sun. These storms can have significant effects on Earth and its technologies. • Solar flares produce high energy particles and radiation that are dangerous to living organisms. However, at the surface of the Earth we are well protected from the effects of solar flares and other solar activity by the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.
- 3. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CAUSES • There are two main causes of Solar Storms, which are: • 1. Solar Flares: Sudden, intense bursts of radiation from the Sun's surface, which release energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. • Solar flare is also a large explosion in the Sun's atmosphere caused by tangling, crossing or reorganizing of magnetic field lines • 2. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Massive bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. • Coronal mass ejection (CME) is also known as a massive burst of plasma from the Sun, sometimes associated with solar flares.
- 4. A LOOK INSIDE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SOLAR STORM • THE FIRST TYPE THAT WE HAVE IS: • Geomagnetic Storms: Disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere caused by solar wind and CMEs. • While the storms create a beautiful aurora, they also can disrupt navigation systems such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and create harmful geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) in the power grid and pipelines. An increase in the geomagnetic disturbance index called Kp is observed.
- 5. An image of Geomagnetic Storm
- 6. SOLAR PROTON EVENTS (SPES) High-energy particles released by solar flares and CMEs, which can penetrate Earth's magnetosphere is one of the prominent features which is associated with Solar Proton Events. In solar physics, a solar particle event (SPE), also known as a solar energetic particle event or solar radiation storm, is a solar phenomenon which occurs when particles emitted by the Sun, mostly protons, become accelerated either in the Sun's atmosphere during a solar flare or in interplanetary space by a coronal.
- 7. SOLAR PROTON EVENTS (SPES)
- 8. RADIO BLACKOUTS • Occur due to intense solar flares disrupting high-frequency radio communications. • Solar flares like this one trigger radio blackouts because they ionize the Earth's ionosphere and absorb radio waves instead of reflecting them, hampering long-distance radio communication. • Radio Blackouts are caused by bursts of X-ray and Extreme Ultra Violet radiation emitted from solar flares.
- 9. EFFECTS OF SOLAR STORMS • On Technology: • Satellite Operations: Solar storms can damage satellites and disrupt communications and GPS signals. • Power Grids: Geomagnetic storms can induce electric currents in power lines, potentially causing transformer damage and widespread power outages. • Aviation: High-frequency radio communications and navigation systems can be disrupted, affecting airline operations. • On Humans: • Astronauts: Increased radiation levels pose health risks to astronauts in space. • Polar Regions: Increased radiation levels can affect airline passengers and crew on polar routes. • On Natural Phenomena: • Auroras: Solar storms can enhance the auroras (Northern and Southern Lights), making them visible at lower latitudes than usual.
- 10. MONITORING AND PREDICTION • Solar Observatories: Space-based (e.g., SOHO, SDO) and ground-based observatories monitor the Sun's activity. • NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center: Provides forecasts and alerts for geomagnetic storms. • Satellite Data: Satellites like the ACE and DSCOVR monitor solar wind conditions in real-time. • All this are ways of controlling the adverse effects of Solar Storms.
- 11. HISTORICAL EVIDENCES • Carrington Event (1859): The Carrington Event of 1859 was the first documented event of a solar flare impacting Earth. The event occurred at 11:18 a.m. EDT on Sept. 1 and is named after Richard Carrington, the solar astronomer who witnessed the event through his private observatory telescope and sketched the sun's sunspots at the time. The flare was the largest documented solar storm in the last 500 years, NASA scientists have said. • According to the NOAA, the Carrington solar storm event sparked major aurora displays that were visible as far south as the Caribbean. It also caused severe interruptions in global telegraph communications, even shocking some telegraph operators and sparking fires when discharges from the lines ignited telegraph paper, according to a NASA description.
- 12. THE BASTILLE DAY • The Bastille Day event takes its name from the French national holiday since it occurred on the same day — July 14, 2000. This was a major solar eruption that registered an X5 on the scale of solar flares. • The Bastille Day event caused some satellites to short-circuit and led to some radio blackouts. It remains one of the most highly observed solar storm events and was the most powerful flare since 1989.
- 13. IMAGES OF BASTILLE DAY
- 14. MITIGATION STRATEGIES • Power Grid Protections: Utilities implement procedures to protect the grid, such as reducing load or disconnecting vulnerable components during a storm. • Satellite Shielding: Satellites are designed with shielding to protect against radiation. • Flight Path Adjustments: Airlines may reroute flights to avoid high radiation levels in polar regions during solar storms.
- 15. RESEARCH AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS • Improving Predictions: Enhancing models to better predict the timing and impact of solar storms. • Understanding Solar Dynamics: Studying the Sun's magnetic field and its influence on solar activity. • Space Weather Infrastructure: Developing better infrastructure for monitoring and responding to space weather events. • In conclusion, Solar storms are significant space weather events that can have profound impacts on technology and human activities. Understanding and preparing for these events is crucial for minimizing their adverse effects.