The Earth may appear to be a squeamish picayune closed system . We get get-up-and-go from the Sun of path , but it seems that from the atmosphere down , all of the processes are planetary in source . We sleep with that this idea is not exactly honest — the Sun is also spewing a incessant current of bill atom that slam into our major planet ’s magnetized field , altering its frame , and in turning , impact the atmosphere and everything that hold up in it . This is just a part of what we call space weather .
ForThe Big Questions , IFLScience ’s podcast , we spoke toDr Nigel Meredithof the British Antarctic Survey ( BAS ) about what distance atmospheric condition actually is andhow it affect us . you could even listen to the sound of some of these events in the episode below .
What do we mean by space conditions ?
Nigel Meredith : The term “ space weather ” refers to variable conditions on the Sun that can basically influence the performance of engineering , both in space and on Earth .
The chief germ of outer space weather is the Sun . We have detonation on the surface of the Sun , they send out burst of charged particles and magnetic field into place and when they reach the ground , they can tear reach the geomagnetic field , giving rise to a geomagnetic storm and this can cause disruption to satellite , to communicating and pilotage signals , to air , and also to power supplies . The nature of this risk is such that severe infinite weather was sum to the UK internal risk of infection record back in 2012 .
How do you monitor the Sun and how the magnetised playing field around the Earth is changing ?
NM : There are various monitors . Some are at the so - called L1 head , which is outside of theEarth ’s magnetosphere towards the Sun and that measure conditions in the solar twist . Then , we have data from satellites themselves in situ in the Earth ’s magnetosphere wheresatellites compass . We can also make mensuration of the waves in space on the flat coat , as well as electric stream that are causedby the aurora .
For example , one of the principal threat to satellites is so - name orca electrons . Theseelectrons have energies of the Holy Order of a mega - electron volt , which means they ’re traveling ata very high-pitched fraction of the focal ratio of light . These relativistic negatron can penetrate satellitesurfaces and imbed themselves in insulator and ungrounded music director .
From here thecharge can build up , the electric field of operation get potent and finally , they can contact level that can cause breakdown . This lead to a discharge , which is n’t full newsfor electronic factor . Sometimes the effect are relatively minor but once in a while , very rarely , an full satellite can be lost if this happens in the wrong berth .
Webuild models here at BAS of the space weather environment , taking into account the plasmawaves in blank space . One particular case of wave , called chorus , has been shown to beimportant for speed these negatron to high energies . We can measure out these both inspace and on the ground and this is where theHalley Research Stationcomes in .
There , we have a VLF receiving system that detects the very low - frequency radio waves from the chorus line emissions . We use themto help us meditate the effects of space atmospheric condition on the radiation surround and also any potential links with link up space weather to climate modification and for lightning sleuthing .
Where is the Halley Research Station ? Are there other monitoring devices on Earth ?
NM : Halley and the VLF receiver are in the Antarctic . There is also aSuperDARN radar , which was in the Antarctic but is currently in the Falkland Islands . This radar measures electrical stream in the aura . During geomagnetic storms , you get thesebeautiful displays of the aurora , but you also get strong electrical current that heat up the atmosphere , and they cause it to expand . This can slow down satellite and space junk and increase the risk of collision .
The SuperDARN radar is part of a global internet of such radiolocation that can value and simulate the heat due to these currents and the effects on distance junk and satellite in orbit — so , we can monitor dissimilar aspects of space weather .
Does all solar activity encroachment Earth ?
NM : The body process that is significant is that which is directed toward the Earth . Back in 2012 , there was a monolithic eruption on the Sun , that had it been directed toward the Earth , and could have caused significant problems . As it was , it went off to the side , so it did n’t derive towards the Earth .
you could have a huge detonation on the Sun thatdoesn’t shape the Earth . It ’s only the ace that come in our direction that are crucial . Imagine if someone is send away bullets , if they go off in a different direction , you ’re safe . If they ’re come towards you , you duck .
It would be very difficult for the Earth to douse . Could modelling tell us what to do if a major burst on the Sun derive toward our planet ?
NM : We ’ve learned a lot over the last 10 or 20 yr with the modeling work and the observationsto be capable to forecast the radiation environment up to 24 hour ahead . Our model doesthat , and it ’s updated every hour and available on the internet for people to apply . We alsoprovide a cadence of the peril of damage as well .
You ’ve do to turn outer space weather into sound , secernate us about that .
NM : The amazing affair about the VLF sign that we detect at Halley is that they are in the audio frequency range , from about 10 Heinrich Rudolph Hertz to 10 kc , which is the same as the sound that we hear .
We find radio waves and can then convert them straight into strait and act them back through speaker system . As a answer , we get to experience some of the infinite conditions environs through our own ears and it turn out that the sound are quite noteworthy .
The chorus wave is so - called because , when you commute it to sound , it resembles the twittering of birds in the dawn chorus , and you have a beautiful clamor with all kinds of variations . These wave can vocalize dissimilar every metre .
The wave can be discover on Earth at Halley , but also forthwith in situ in space where they are generated . When you find them on Earth , there ’s a lot of crackling in the background . This come from lightning : every time you have alightning flashit gives out a massive pulse of wireless waves , some in the VLF range , so you continually hear crackling on Earth .
Does this think you may hear lightning from other part of the earth ?
NM : Yes . This is what ’s unbelievable . The kind of crackles that we take heed at Halley typically total from the Amazon andCongo basins , both of which are over 8,000 kilometers ( 4,970 miles ) away .
Some of the radio waves from lightning even leak out into space . They then travel along the Earth ’s magnetized field line and are collected in the other cerebral hemisphere . The signaling get distorted because the gamey frequencies jaunt quicker than the lower frequencies . What starts out as a ping or a crack actually comes back as a whistling sound , a descend tone . We call that a whistler . [ you’re able to hear these sounds in the episode above . ]
The sounds you get a line also look on the metre of Clarence Day , or whether there is a geomagnetic storm going on . It ’s like Earth ’s own symphonic music or natural radio .
