The infographic presented was prepared by ESA specialists. It illustrates the main effects of space weather on technology and people.
The term space weather usually means the totality of all conditions in near-earth space, mainly determined by our luminary. One of the most visible manifestations of space weather is the interference that occurs in global positioning systems and radio communications during powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Increased solar activity also leads to "swelling" of the upper layers of the earth's atmosphere. This can cause a decrease in the orbits of spacecraft and, in some cases, even their premature descent.
Another important factor in space weather is radiation. It leads to the gradual degradation of solar panels and electronics, which reduces the efficiency of space satellites and shortens their lifespan. Radiation also has an impact on the health of astronauts. During the day, the members of the ISS crew receive a dose of radiation in the amount of about 1 millisievert, which is roughly equivalent to human exposure on Earth for a year. It should be remembered that the ISS is covered by the earth's magnetic field. If you go beyond it, the radiation level will increase.
Astronauts aren't the only people who can be exposed to cosmic radiation. Pilots and passengers of airplanes flying at high altitudes can also receive higher than usual radiation doses during solar flares.
In addition, during the most powerful geomagnetic storms, parasitic currents can occur in long conducting systems on Earth, affecting the operation of power supply systems. The most famous in this sense is the accident caused by the magnetic storm on March 13, 1989, during which 6 million people and most of Quebec's industry were left without electricity for 9 hours.
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