SEARCH LATEST NEWS
Solar Storm Home Privacy Archive
SOLAR STORM
POSTED BY EIZ ON THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2012, 7:14 AM
GO
Solar-Storm.png
by Denise Chow, SPACE.com Staff Writer If this week's raging solar storm was any indication, the
sun is ramping up its activity — and scientists will be ready for it. By meticulously studying our
planet's star, they are able to predict these ...
Share |
SOLAR STORM
POSTED BY EIZ ON THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2012, 7:14 AM
Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the
flare, shown here in red/orange as that is
the color typically used to show light in the
304 Angstrom wavelength. The flare
began at 10:38 PM ET on Jan. 22, peaked
at 10:59 PM and ended at 11:34 PM.
If this week's raging solar storm was any
indication, the sun is ramping up its
activity — and scientists will be ready for it.
By meticulously studying our planet's star,
they are able to predict these potentially
dangerous space weather events better
than ever before.
A huge solar flare erupted Jan. 23, triggering the strongest radiation storm in nearly a decade. A
wave of charged particles, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), bombarded Earth yesterday (Jan.
24). The bombardment is over now, but some minor disruptions to spacecraft and power grids
were reported.
Scientists' forecast for the arrival of the disruptive wave was off by only 13 minutes, far more
accurate than in the past. And with much of the world's networks interconnected and populations
increasingly reliant on technology, the ability to predict and track potentially harmful space weather
events will become ever more crucial. [Photos: Huge Solar Flare Sparks Major Radiation Storm]
Solar flares and CMEs are expected to increase in frequency as the sun emerges from the
dormant phase of its 11-year activity cycle.
Share |
COPYRIGHT (C) 2011 SEARCH LATEST NEWS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.