Space Weather: Causes and Consequences

Abstract:

Since the middle to late 1800’s, it has been recognized that the Sun can influence our lives on Earth in ways that extend beyond the already known, and appreciated, effects from light and heat. Impacts on telegraph operations, in close association with observations of solar flares, geomagnetic disturbances, and the aurora were a clue that the Sun, in ways yet to be understood, caused changes in Earth’s environment and affected burgeoning technologies. Today, we measure the Sun’s radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, as well as energetic particles over a wide range of energies. We also monitor the near-Earth space environment and utilize models of the solar-terrestrial system. We have a deeper understanding of what is now called “Space Weather,” or how the Sun’s output and variability drives conditions in near-Earth and interplanetary space that affect technological systems and human activities. In this tutorial, we will discuss the origins and consequences of space weather and examine the scientific and societal challenges for predicting and responding to a variety of space weather conditions, including extreme events. Examples of recent effects on satellites, power grids, and navigation systems will be used to illustrate the linkages between space science understanding and space weather operations. As a tutorial on space weather, in a conference on magnetospheric dynamics, special emphasis will be given to models and observations in the magnetospheric system and the challenges for moving observations and models into an operations environment; however, examples will also be given about space weather effects in planetary exploration. Finally, we will highlight international space weather activities and the importance of national and international partnerships for advancing space weather capabilities to predict and protect.