Space Weather and Solar Storm

I have always wondered about weather forecast and space weather having read numerous articles online regarding satellites geostationary orbits, remote sensing and navigation. 

Solar Storm
Its common knowledge for the scientists involved in space research that weather in the solar system is important for the health of all the satellites. If such a weather changes for the worse the satellites functioning would also be affected advertising starting off a chain reaction including disturbances in GPS systems and mobile communication networks. Today the adage is extremely important "Fore-warned is fore-armed" for space-weather science. This is because we need to be informed as early as possible of an originating storm in the solar system space because this would effect many systems including civil aviation and also flying in polar or high altitudes.

The telecommunication satellites in space needs to be protected from such storms to increase the longevity of instruments. As an example of what hazard can solar storm cause, it may be recalled that India's "Chandrayan Mission", a spaceship that was sent to monitor details about lunar surface, was affected due to radiations from space storms.
India's ISRO has also an elaborate futuristic plan to launch "Aditya-L1", a spacecraft to study the sun and its solar radiations, similar to NASA and ESA. Another field which is closely related to weather space space science has also attracted me. This is geomagnetic storm. Being an electrical engineer and electromagnetic theory being one of my favorite subject, I got myself involved in acquiring knowledge about Earth's magnetic sphere and its disturbances.

A geomagnetic storm is one of the disturbances within the earth's magnetosphere. Geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance caused by solar wind shock that interacts with earth's magnetic field. The magnetosphere gets compressed by increased pressure of the solar wind and thereby transfer the excess energy into the earth's magnetic field. The resultant effect is increase in the plasma movement through magnetosphere and ionosphere.
During such a storm the boundary between magnetosphere and solar wind is pushed out by the excess electric current that is generated. As to why such a phenomena occurs it is hypothesized that the solar coronal mass is ejected at a high speed due to magnetic disturbance in the earth's surface. It has been observed that Geomagnetic storms are dependent on "Sun's spot cycle".

Magnetic Storm
It has been recorded in history that the largest Ferro-Magnetic Storm occurred in Sept, 1859, known as the solar storm of 1859. In March 9, 1989 Geomagnetic storm caused collapse of a power grid in Quebec, Canada(6 million people were left without power for 9 hours). On July 14, 2000 a Geomagnetic Super storm was recorded by the spaceships Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 from the farthest corner of the solar system. Besides disrupting electrical system, solar storm can affect communication dependent on short wave broadcasting and high frequency bands. Military warning systems and telegraphic lines also got affected in the past. The solar system can affect GPS signals in navigation system.

Solar flares depending upon their intensity can cause radiation poisoning to mammals(including humans) similar to radiation from dangerous nuclear blasts.Astronauts can be potentially in danger from lethal losses of radiation unless they are adequately protected.
Since there are many rapidly advancing space research organizations, all who specialize along these lines stands a good chance of becoming space research scientist.

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