Forecasting space weather
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 can affect our technology and the near-Earth space environment by:
- varying the Earth’s magnetic field
- enhancing electrical fields and currents in the atmosphere and the ground
- increasing the amount of radiation entering the upper atmosphere
- varying the density and stability of the upper atmosphere.
Space weather can disrupt GPS navigation and radio communications. It can also damage satellites and the electricity transmission network.
We watch and predict space weather to provide information to the industries and businesses that could be affected by it. This allows them to take precautions and prepare to reduce the risks.