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What happens on the Sun affects what happens on Earth. Image courtesy of SOHO Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 2 2

Space Weather: The Sun’s influence on terrestrial affairs Solar Activity and Space Weather 3

Magnetic Field Lines Magnetism produces invisible lines of force between the poles of the object. Compasses align themselves along magnetic field lines. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 4

Earth has a magnetic field. Magnetic field lines extend between Earth's north and south poles creating the magnetosphere. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 5

The Sun sends more than light and warmth to the Earth! It also sends high velocity, charged particles (a plasma), a “SOLAR WIND.” Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 6

The solar wind squashes and stretches the Earth's magnetosphere. The magnetic field lines on the Sun’s side are squashed, while the magnetic field lines on the opposite side are stretched out. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 7

Sun-Earth connection The Sun and Earth are connected by the Sun’s atmosphere, its solar wind. Changes on the Sun affect the solar wind flow, thereby affecting the Earth. Click here to watch a movie!!! Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 8

What affects the solar wind? Solar flares Solar flares occur when magnetic energy built up in the Sun’s atmosphere is suddenly released. Radiation is emitted from the entire electromagnetic spectrum with the energy equivalent of millions of hydrogen bombs exploding simultaneously! Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 9

Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) Coronal mass ejections are explosions in the Sun‘s corona that spew out tons of solar particles. Arriving one to four days later, they cause strong geomagnetic storms, auroras, and electrical power blackouts. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 10

Earth’s natural defenses are: The magnetosphere A magnetic bubble deflecting charged particles from the solar wind. The atmosphere A radiation and particle absorber. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 11

Solar emissions at supersonic speeds are constantly bombarding this protective bubble. Some break through, resulting in brilliant auroras and, more dramatically, solar storms. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 12

Auroras Auroras are caused by strong solar winds and powerful magnetic storms. Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 13

Solar Storms Because of our reliance on technology, solar storms are troublesome. In space they can: endanger astronauts, damage satellites, and cause communication blackouts. On the ground they can: disrupt communication systems, damage power grids, and confound navigation systems (GPS). Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 14

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How can scientists examine Space Weather? One way: Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) Temperature is related to a particle’s average kinetic energy. The ISR measures the temperature of the ionosphere’s plasma which has both ions (Ti) and electrons (Te). 16

Incoherent Scatter Radar Plate Tectonics, Geodesy, and VLBI 17 17

Getting Data from a Data Base Using MIT’s Madrigal ISR Data Set Solar activity and Space Weather 18

Solar Activity and Space Weather To make the data student-friendly, Our MIT Madrigal data sets contain a limited set of parameters. Instrument: Millstone Hill IS Radar Parameters displayed: Date and Time to the second, Universal Time, Log electron density, Electron and Ion temperature in K Altitude: 275 km to 325 km Radar angle: Overhead, 85º to 90º Time: Around noon,11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (Not always selected) Solar Activity and Space Weather 19

Annual Ionospheric Temperatures Minimum in the Solar Cycle Solar Activity and Space Weather 20

Annual Ionospheric Temperatures Maximum in the Solar Cycle Solar Activity and Space Weather 21

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Solar Activity and Space Weather Summary Using Space Weather to Demonstrate the Scientific Method Space Weather and ISR Demystifying Scientific Data and the Scientific Process How Research Scientists Think and Work Data Collection and its Subsequent Analysis Student and Educator Lesson Plans are available. http://www.haystack.mit.edu Solar Activity and Space Weather 23

Watch the Space Weather 28 minute Video ! Solar Activity and Space Weather Solar Activity and Space Weather 24