Space weather research

Our approach to space weather research

Certain events that happen beyond the Earth's atmosphere are known as space weather. These include solar flares, which are sudden explosions of energy from the Sun.

Space weather mostly starts at the Sun. It affects the Earth's upper atmosphere and near space environment. It can affect our technology and disrupt GPS navigation and radio communications. It also can damage satellites and the electricity transmission network by:

• varying the Earth’s magnetic field
• enhancing electrical fields and currents in the upper atmosphere and the ground
• increasing the amount of radiation entering the upper atmosphere
• varying the density and stability of the upper atmosphere.

Our research into space weather aims to improve how we predict these space weather events.

We use complex mathematical models to make these predictions. We also assess new models and approaches, to keep our research approach up-to-date.

Space weather research priorities

Solar flares, radio bursts and energetic particle events

We're investigating ways to better predict the likelihood of solar flares, solar radio bursts and solar energetic particle events.

Solar flares are a sudden explosion of energy from the Sun. Radio waves produced during solar flares, known as solar radio bursts, can affect GPS navigation and other technologies.

Solar energetic particles are high-energy charged particles, released through solar flares and other solar activity. The charged particles can follow magnetic lines between the Sun and planets, including Earth.

Solar wind conditions

We're investigating ways to predict solar wind conditions, including magnetic field variations.

As part of this research, we want to understand what happens when a large amount of plasma and magnetic field bursts from the Sun's corona. This is known as a coronal mass ejection. We're particularly interested when solar active regions or filament eruptions drive this type of event.

Solar wind is the outflow of solar material from the Sun's corona. It blows into space carrying the magnetic fields that originate in the Sun.

Geomagnetic and ionospheric storms

We're working to better predict geomagnetic storms and ionospheric storms. We're also investigating how these storms affect our technology.

A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the area of space dominated by Earth's magnetic field. It causes electrical currents to flow through the Earth and its upper atmosphere.

An ionospheric storm happens in the shell of electrons and electrically charged atoms and molecules surrounding the Earth. This is our ionosphere, stretching from a height of about 60 km to 1,000 km above our planet's surface.

Ionospheric irregularities

We're investigating how to better predict irregularities in the ionosphere. These include equatorial plasma bubbles.

An equatorial plasma bubble is an area of the upper atmosphere that contains less plasma than surrounding areas. They can disrupt radio communication and GPS navigation.

Geomagnetically induced currents

We're working to better predict geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). We're also examining how they interact with the national electricity grid.

GICs are produced by geomagnetic storms. They can flow through power grids and cause blackouts.

Aurora australis

We're examining how to improve our prediction of the aurora australis (southern lights).

This beautiful light display underpins a growing astro-tourism industry.