Climate and Space Science

Understanding the forces driving our weather

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Although weather has the highest impact on our lives day-to-day, it is often misunderstood with the over-arching influences of climate and the impact that solar activity has on Earth's atmosphere. Soon after the eruption of a major solar flare last week, Forecaster Patrick Ritsko, a sophomore in Meteorology from Penn State University, prepared this lead article on the event. We are pleased to present this as the first in weekly focus on "Climate and Space Science." Our objective is to provide readers with an look inside some of these intriguing factors which not only produce awe-inspiring "auroras," but also affect our daily lives in countless ways...despite being located thousands or millions of miles away. ~Forecaster Foot - Baltimore, MD

Largest solar flare in four years

February 18, 2011 

By Forecaster Patrick Ritsko, Penn State University

Solar storms, also known as solar flares, are electromagnetic explosions from the sun. This past week, the sun produced its largest solar flare in over four years, which affected radio signals in China and satellite reception worldwide. The sun goes through solar flare peaks every 11 – 12 years where some years are quieter than others. While 2010 appeared to be a somewhat quiet year, 2011 is predicted to bring an upward trend in these solar flares. This predicted upward trend was certainly evident by this past Valentine’s Day flare, which perfectly showcased the intensity these storms have the potential of producing.

Videos:

Youtube | NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)

NASA classified this storm on the Class X level – which is the most intensive measurement of evaluating solar flares. Class X flares carry the most influence on Earth’s upper atmosphere, which can severely affect AM radio waves and satellite communications. Class X flares also have the potential to affect radars and many weather-observing tools we use. Flares are usually short-lived, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a half-hour.

Scientists are monitoring and waiting patiently for a larger, more dramatic event as the sun begins its wake-up from a rather quiet cycle. Although this week’s storm was intense, Earth has seen much stronger flares in the past decade. If this storm is any indication of what we can expect in the coming years, solar forecasters are predicting a peak in activity by 2013 or 2014.

References:
Wall, M. “Solar storm worry: Pondering the “big one.” (2011).

CBS News. Retrieved February 18, 2011 from

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/18/scitech/main200333

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