How the weather in space can affect us on Earth - and the team trying to protect us
The weather in space has the potential to impact our lives here on Earth in a fundamental way.
The Met Office's space weather prediction team oversees screens displaying close-up imagery of the Sun, constantly monitoring for potential impacts on Earth. Vital technologies like GPS, power grids, and satellites are vulnerable to changes in Earth's magnetic field. To combat this, the Met Office collaborated with Aberystwyth University researchers, who are leading a project to enhance space weather forecasting.
Space weather originates from the Sun, with solar flares being a key contributor. A severe space weather event could cost the global economy $2.4 trillion over five years. The team aims to diagnose solar surface activity, provide forecasts, and alert relevant users to take preventative measures. While technology has advanced significantly since 2014, observations still contain limitations, offering only an hour of warning before an event reaches Earth.
This delay allows crucial mitigations, such as power grid preparations and flight route adjustments. The field of space weather forecasting is still maturing, with scientists predicting an 11-year activity cycle for the Sun. The Carrington Event of 1859 serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of a severe space weather event.
In 1991, Helen Sharman, the first British woman in space, was taught sheltering techniques during her mission, highlighting the need to consider radiation protection for astronauts on future lunar and Martian missions.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
