Storm Spotting.

• Autores: Krista West
• Localización: Scientific American, ISSN 0036-8733, Vol. 290, Nº. 3, 2004, págs. 26-28
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • On October 19, 2003, a large solar flare erupted from the surface of the sun, drawing scientists' attention to three massive sunspot groups that, over the next two weeks, produced a total of 124 flares. Along with these bursts of electromagnetic radiation came enormous clouds of plasma mixed with magnetic fields. Known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), these unpredictable clouds consist of billions of tons of energetic protons and electrons. When directed earthward, CMEs can create problems. The flares and CMEs affected more than 20 satellites and spacecraft, which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a first-ever alert of excessive radiation exposure for air travelers, and temporarily knocked out power grids in Sweden. In order to help predict CME activity in the future, researchers announced the early success of a forecasting instrument, called the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI), that can track CMEs through space and time. SMEI works like a 24-hour surveillance system, constantly scanning and tracking. Right now it takes about 24 hours for SMEI data to reach Hanscom because they travel through multiple ground-tracking stations.