Space weather

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What is the aurora?

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The aurora is a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions, caused by the collision of charged particles from the solar wind with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere.

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What are coronal holes?

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Coronal holes are dark areas in the solar corona that are associated with open magnetic field lines, allowing solar wind to escape more easily into space.

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What are coronal mass ejections (CMEs)?

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Coronal mass ejections are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's corona, which can disrupt space weather and affect satellite operations.

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What is the ionosphere?

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The ionosphere is a region of Earth's upper atmosphere, from about 30 miles (48 km) to 600 miles (965 km) above the surface, where atoms and molecules are ionized, creating a layer of free electrons.

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What are galactic cosmic rays?

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Galactic cosmic rays are highly energetic particles originating from outside the solar system that constantly bombard the Earth.

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What is solar wind?

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Solar wind is a stream of charged particles (mostly electrons and protons) released from the upper atmosphere of the sun, which can interact with Earth's magnetic field.

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What are solar flares?

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Solar flares are sudden eruptions of energy on the sun's surface that release a significant amount of radiation and can impact space weather.

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What is a geomagnetic storm?

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A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by solar wind and solar flares, which can affect satellite communications and power grids.

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What is the magnetosphere?

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The magnetosphere is the region around the Earth dominated by its magnetic field, which protects the planet from solar and cosmic radiation.

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What is the relationship between solar activity and space weather?

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Solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, can significantly influence space weather, affecting satellite operations, communications, and power systems on Earth.