ICAO Space Weather Center ProvisionsTo NAMCARSAM Seminar on Space WeatherBy M Pat Murphy Federal Aviation Administration USDate July 16 2018
Overview
bull What is ldquoSpace Weatherrdquobull Space Weather Phenomena
Solar Flares Radiation Storms Geomagnetic Storms
bull Impacts to Aviationbull Services in ICAO
Magnetosphere
Energetic Charged Particles
ElectromagneticRadiation
What is space weatherSpace weather refers to the variable conditions on the Sun and in
the space environment that can influence the performance and reliability of space and groundbased technological systems as
well as endanger human health
Ionosphere
Presenter
Presentation Notes
At the Earthrsquos surface the atmosphere and the geomagnetic field provide ample protection from most of the solar electromagnetic radiation and charged particles The protective boundary of the Earthrsquos magnetic field is highly reactive to the onslaught of energy and pressure originating from the sun However while the sunrsquos harmful radiation and particles donrsquot generally reach the surface in sufficient quantities to have direct harmful effects their secondary effects are often felt The Earthrsquos magnetosphere redistributes its particle populations often sending a rush of energetic particles along magnetic field lines into the atmosphere over the polar caps and creating the swirling red green and white auroras Other particles pour into the Van Allen radiation belts and encircle the Earth in a ring of electric current The Earthrsquos magnetic field itself can distort to such an extent that compasses at the surface swing 10 degrees away from the magnetic pole The ionosphere (80-1000 km above the Earthrsquos surface) changes in ways that affect radio transmissions absorbing some radio frequencies distorting others and creating electric currents that affect systems on the ground13
4
The Sun at Solar Maximum
Sunspots and the Solar Cycle
~27 day full rotation
The Sun Today
Solar Cycle Updatebull Cycle 23 began in May 1996 bull Peak in April 2000 with SSN = 120bull Solar Minimum in December 2008bull Solar Cycle 24 Underway
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Smoo
thed
Sun
spot
Num
ber
Sunspot Solar Cycles
2317161514 21201918 22
Chart1
23
17
16
15
14
21
20
19
18
22
Smoothed Sunspot Number
Sunspot Solar Cycles
95
27
5
244
42
635
538
62
485
439
186
57
36
14
96
474
571
1039
806
636
376
261
142
58
167
443
639
69
778
649
357
212
111
57
87
361
797
1144
1096
888
678
475
306
163
96
332
926
1516
1363
1347
839
694
315
139
44
38
1417
1902
1848
159
1123
539
376
279
102
151
47
937
1059
1055
1045
666
689
38
345
155
126
275
925
1554
1546
1405
1159
666
459
179
134
292
1002
1576
1426
1457
943
546
299
175
86
215
643
933
1196
111
104
55
40
32
20
12
Sheet1
Sheet1
Sheet2
Sheet3
Sunspot Number
of gt10 MeV Radiation Storms
gt10 MeV Radiation Storm Distribution - Solar Cycle 23
Smoothed Sunspot Number
of day with Kp gt6
Year
Smoothed Sunspot Number Number of Kp gt= 7