Tag

Solar Storms

All articles tagged with #solar storms

space5 days ago•4 min saved

Hidden Edge of a Solar Eruption Unmasks Gaps in Space-Weather Forecasts

NASA’s Europa Clipper detected an unusual, hotter-and-sparser solar wind during a routine instrument check, traced to a complex, irregular coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun. Using data from 17 spacecraft, scientists mapped the CME’s distorted shape and found a component headed toward Earth that wasn’t visible from Earth’s view, revealing a blind spot in space-weather forecasting. The finding underscores the need for out-of-ecliptic observations to better shield future crewed missions from solar radiation.

via Gizmodo|

#coronal-mass-ejections #europa-clipper #heliophysics

science24 days ago•3 min saved

Solar Storms May Amplify Martian Dust Storms, New Study Indicates

New analysis using NASA's MAVEN and ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter data suggests solar energetic particle events can heat Mars’ lower atmosphere, and when these events coincide with global dust storms they may intensify the storms. The heating was clearly observed in a June 2018 SEP event during a dust storm (about 50°C at 75–125 km), while a July 2021 event showed a smaller effect; results are not yet conclusive and more data—such as from the 2024 solar storm—are needed to confirm the phenomenon. Opportunity’s demise after a dust storm is mentioned as context for Mars’ weather sensitivity, but the core finding is the potential for multiple solar and atmospheric events to interact and alter Martian weather.

via Gizmodo|

#dust-storms #mars #maven

space-and-spaceflight1 month ago•17 min saved

New NASA study says extreme solar storms could be more powerful than previously thought

A NASA Goddard-led study argues that past estimates of solar-storm severity were biased by erroneous measurements, suggesting there may be no upper limit to the energy solar wind can transfer to Earth's magnetosphere; this implies extreme one-in-a-thousand-year events could pose greater risks to satellites, GPS, and communications than previously recognized.

via Gizmodo|

#geomagnetic-storms #measurement-errors #nasa

science1 month ago•105 min saved

Extreme solar storms could punch deeper than feared, new study finds

A Nature study argues the Earth’s response to extreme solar storms may be stronger than previously estimated because most measurements come from near the Sun–Earth L1 point. When researchers analyzed data from spacecraft closer to Earth, they found geomagnetic disturbances continue to rise with solar-wind strength, suggesting rare one-in-a-thousand-year events could have greater impacts on satellites, GPS, communications, and power grids, even as such events remain extremely rare. Historical storms like the Carrington Event and Quebec blackout are cited to illustrate potential risks, underscoring the need to rethink extreme space-weather risk assessments during solar maximum.

via Space|

#note-only-five-tags-will-be-kept-included-an-extra-tag-for-clarity #satellites #science

space-exploration1 month ago•92 min saved

StormWall: A six-satellite plasma shield could blunt solar superstorms

Scientists propose StormWall, a constellation of six bus‑sized satellites in geostationary orbit that would release gas to form a plasma barrier at Earth’s magnetosphere, potentially reducing the impact of solar superstorms by more than 50% (up to 84% in simulations of a 2024 event). While the concept is touted as feasible with current tech, it would be costly (billions), require large rockets, and raise environmental and safety questions, with further studies needed before any deployment.

via Live Science|

#magnetosphere #satellites #solar-storms

space2 months ago•13 min saved

STEREO-A’s lone encounter rewrites what a Carrington-scale solar storm would do to Earth

NASA’s STEREO-A happened to sit in the direct path of the July 2012 Carrington-class CME, taking the full hit while Earth avoided a direct strike. The spacecraft’s instruments recorded unprecedented in-situ measurements of magnetic fields, plasma density, and shock structure, creating a canonical dataset for extreme solar storms. Analyses using that data suggest a direct Carrington-type event could drive geomagnetic disturbances powerful enough to damage hundreds of high-voltage transformers across North America and Europe, underscoring the value of even hours of warning. The event also anchors statistical risk estimates (roughly 10–15% per decade) and confirms that a future Earth-directed storm could have devastating consequences if not anticipated.

via Space Daily|

#coronal-mass-ejection #geomagnetic-storms #infrastructure-risk

science2 months ago•41 min saved

Scientists propose space-based chemical shield to deflect severe solar storms

Researchers suggest releasing trace chemical clouds into Earth's magnetosphere to form a protective shield against powerful solar storms. The idea is highly speculative and would require major advances in feasibility, funding, and risk assessment, as well as careful consideration of potential environmental and geopolitical consequences before any real-world testing.

via Yahoo|

#environmental-impacts #geoengineering #magnetosphere

science2 months ago•13 min saved

Colorado may catch a faint aurora tonight as solar storms approach

A trio of coronal mass ejections could spark aurora displays tonight, with the strongest activity around 8 p.m. Colorado may see a weaker showing than November’s peak, but stargazers away from city lights could still glimpse a faint northern lights glow, and cameras may pick up colors even when they’re hard to see with the naked eye.

via The Denver Post|

#aurora-borealis #colorado #noaa

science2 months ago•8 min saved

3D Subsurface Map Reveals Hidden Pathways Threatening U.S. Power Grids

A two-decade study using 1,800 magnetotelluric stations yields the United States Magnetotelluric Array, a first large-scale 3D map of underground electrical properties. It shows complex geoelectric structures that can drive damaging currents during solar storms, potentially threatening electrical grids. The data improve hazard assessment and feed NOAA/USGS real-time risk maps, moving beyond older 1D models and aiding future prediction and resource exploration.

via SciTechDaily|

#geomagnetic-storms #magnetotelluric #power-grids

science3 months ago•38 min saved

Solar storms could push crowded low-Earth orbit into a 2.8-day debris cascade

A study led by Sarah Thiele warns that today’s mega-constellations in low-Earth orbit are so crowded and maneuver-dependent that a rare disruption, especially a solar storm, could overwhelm collision-avoidance systems. Using the CRASH Clock metric, researchers estimate that a complete loss of command over avoidance could trigger a catastrophic collision in about 2.8 days, far faster than the late-2010s risk, with even a 24-hour outage carrying roughly a 30% chance of a major debris-producing event. The work highlights the fragile infrastructure of crowded space and the need for robust contingency planning amid ongoing mega-constellations.

via Earth.com|

#orbital-debris #satellites #science

space3 months ago•3 min saved

Geomagnetic Storm Could Trigger Rapid Satellite Collisions in Space

A Princeton-led study warns that a strong solar geomagnetic storm could sever communications with satellites, preventing orbital maneuvers and potentially triggering a rapid cascade of collisions in low-Earth orbit within about 2.8 days, underscoring the fragility of the largely Starlink-led network and the need for constant, precise control to avoid debris-related chaos.

via PetaPixel|

#kessler-syndrome #satellites #solar-storms

science3 months ago•5 min saved

LEO Collision Window Shrinks to 2.8 Days, Study Warns

A new arXiv study introduces the CRASH Clock to estimate how quickly a major satellite collision could occur if orbital tracking or maneuvering fails. Results show a serious collision could happen in about 2.8 days if maneuvering is lost (5.5 days when all tracked objects are included), a sharp tightening from 164 days in 2018 due to denser mega-constellations and debris. The risk is amplified by solar storms that disrupt tracking, communications, and maneuvering, potentially triggering a rapid cascade of debris in low Earth orbit.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#crash-clock #kessler-syndrome #low-earth-orbit

science3 months ago•4 min saved

Crowded Low-Earth Orbit Could Enter Debris Catastrophe in Days if Control Fails

New research introduces the CRASH Clock to estimate how quickly a serious, debris-generating collision could occur in crowded low-Earth orbit if satellites lose control; using June 2025 data, a loss of command for avoidance could trigger a catastrophic collision in about 2.8 days, with a broader version at 5.5 days and a far longer 164-day gap in 2018. The risk is heightened by megaconstellations such as Starlink, which perform thousands of maneuvers, and by solar storms that expand Earth's atmosphere and disrupt tracking, making collision assessments harder and potentially leading to rapid debris growth in a Carrington-scale event.

via SciTechDaily|

#crash-clock #low-earth-orbit #science

science3 months ago•3 min saved

Citizen Scientists Help NASA Pave the Way for Safer, Longer Space Missions

NASA invites the public to join citizen-science projects that aid human space exploration—sorting MMS data to study solar storms, growing space crops with Growing Beyond Earth, analyzing life-in-space data, and building space-weather stations with HamSCI—open to anyone with a love of science and no citizenship requirements.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#citizen-science #nasa #science

technology7 months ago•9 min saved

Starlink Expansion Sparks Warnings of Space Debris, Atmospheric Impact

The FCC approved 7,500 more Starlink satellites, bringing the constellation to about 15,000 by 2031, but scientists warn this could heighten collision risk in crowded orbits, trigger space-debris concerns (including sub-10 cm fragments), and alter the stratosphere with more aluminum oxide from deorbiting, while solar storms pose additional lower-orbit risks—even as officials emphasize faster broadband and economic benefits.

via CNET|

#fcc #kessler-syndrome #solar-storms