21 March 2025

Space Weather

Space weather refers to the environmental conditions in space, particularly in the region between the Earth and the sun, and how these conditions affect space-based and Earth-based activities. It primarily encompasses phenomena such as solar wind, solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and geomagnetic storms. Space weather can influence satellite operations, communication systems, navigation systems, and even electrical grids on Earth. It results from the interactions between the solar wind—a stream of charged particles emitted by the sun—and the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. Understanding space weather is crucial for protecting technology and infrastructure from potentially harmful effects caused by solar activity and its interaction with the Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere.