Solar Storms - Part II

As mentioned in the first segment, solar storms do have an effect on the Earth in many ways.  These storms have an 11 year cycle where the next peak is in 2013. Because of our reliance on technology, these storms also have an impact on our power systems, electronics and communication systems.

Here is a list of critical systems affected;

• GPS
• Power Grids (hospitals & airports most affected)
• Airline communication
• Military & Environmental Satellites

NOAA's SWPC also known as The Space Weather Prediction Center, is located in Boulder Colorado, is our early warning for Space Weather events.  They warn us if there is high solar activity and provides space weather forecasts. 

Solar Storms also cause the effect known as the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, the image below shows how solar flare energy ionizes our upper atmosphere and causes this spectacular display.

Image Courtesy NOAA

I need to credit the source of this story (NOAA)  

http://www.noaa.gov/features/03_protecting/whenthesunactsup.html

Space Weather – Solar Storms

The cold wave that hit Europe was caused by Solar Storm Radiation from space

I have had discussions with a friend of mine about space weather and how it may be affecting our weather here on Earth.  It seems hard to prove that space weather can affect us.   Today I found an article that can help explain these phenomena. 

A Meteorologist from the Belgrade School of Meteorology explained that a solar storm or solar flare may have caused the oppressive weather that has been experienced in much of Europe recently.  According to Milan Stevancevic, this solar energy is the cause of both life constructive and destructive effects on our planet.  Solar flares can also cause earthquakes, and tornadoes with overall, increased rain and winds.  The larger the solar eruption experienced, the more it will affect the winter and the following summer with a higher level of rain.  Stevancevic stated that each solar flare creates proton radiation, which triggers ionization on entering the atmosphere.  The solar storm from January 28^th produced 15 minutes of radiation that was strong enough to equal 5 times of a routine x-ray, apparently clouds absorb this radiation.  The proton radiation triggers particles that increase precipitation and particles that help fertilize the ground.  So what about areas that have a thin or no ozone to protect them from this ionization?  It seems that the proton radiation passes through our atmosphere and this is something that has naturally occurred. 

Here is a current image of the suns solar activity;

 I want to thank the author and the source of this story, a great story for space weather fans. To read on, please click here; http://glassrbije.org/E/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17654&Itemid=28

Hurricane Irene, Long Island NY

Here is a video I found from a group of storm chasers that I follow online.   This is a documentary of them filming the effects of Irene in Long Island NY, I think they did a really nice job of conveying the dangers of the flooding and their video shows a tree falling on wires.  The worst thing to do is to underestimate the danger of a storm, you really need to be prepared for something like this. 

For new readers, you can catch up with my earlier posts with photos regarding Irene and it's effects in our area here; http://climatedriver.blogspot.com/search?q=Irene

 

Latest update Suomi NPP

This new image was released from data captured back on January 21 - 25. 

   The CrlS is one of five instruments called the Cross-track Infrared Sounder.   The image below is from the Nasa website: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/news/cris-operational.html

The image is from 3 days of captured data and the orange colors show very warm seas surface temperatures.  The information collected from this advanced instrument will aid scientists to study and record climate data to help improve weather forecasting.

Please enjoy the high resolution infrared image.. Credit NASA/NOAA

Plasma Stream Tornadoes

Believe it on not there are Tornadoes on the Sun! 

It is tornado season, well not officially stated, but you can see details online at the Solar Dynamics Observatory website / NASA .  SDO 

The video on the site shows the plasma jet activity in extreme ultraviolet light on the sun's surface.  This event occurred on February 7th & 8th, you can see the forces made by strong magnetic fields and the video appears both on the website and on the youtube video below.