June 14, 2023: The thermosphere is heating up, placing the satellites in danger. Know more about what solar storms are and how it’s affecting us. Read the ReferencePepper.
The thermosphere's infrared emissions, which have been observed to be at a 20-year high, are monitored by this specific satellite. According to scientists, the several solar storms that blasted Earth in 2023 caused the thermosphere, a component of the upper atmosphere, to be pushed higher and become hotter.
These solar storms have transported a significant quantity of energy, which has heated up and shifted the thermosphere upward. Air is now getting to the satellites in the lower Earth orbits, which could be problematic for them.
What is a Solar Storm?
A solar storm is a powerful and exciting phenomenon that happens in space. It occurs when the Sun releases a lot of energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections1 (CMEs). These events create a disturbance in the Sun's atmosphere, and sometimes, they can send a big burst of particles and radiation out into space.
Picture source: NASA
When these particles and radiation reach the Earth, they can interact with our planet's magnetic field. This interaction can cause beautiful and colorful lights in the sky called the auroras or the Northern Lights (in the northern hemisphere) and the Southern Lights (in the southern hemisphere). Auroras are like nature's light show!
Photo by Lightscape on Unsplash
However, solar storms can also have some effects on our modern technology. The particles and radiation from the storm can interfere with satellites and communication systems.
They can also disrupt power grids, causing temporary blackouts in some areas.
Scientists study solar storms to understand them better and predict when they might happen. This way, we can be prepared and protect our technology from their effects.
A coronal mass ejection1 (CME) is a fascinating and energetic event that occurs on the Sun. It happens when the Sun's magnetic field becomes twisted and releases a huge amount of hot, charged particles into space.
In Picture: Coronal mass ejections are usually visible in white-light coronagraphs. Here, the white circle represents the size of the Sun.
Picture source: NASA
Imagine the Sun as a big ball of hot gas with a magnetic field around it. Sometimes, this magnetic field can get tangled up and become twisted. When this happens, it can suddenly release a burst of particles and magnetic energy, shooting them out into space. This burst is called a coronal mass ejection.
These ejections are incredibly powerful and can travel at very high speeds, sometimes millions of kilometers per hour.
When a coronal mass ejection heads towards Earth, it takes a few days to reach us. When it arrives, it interacts with our planet's magnetic field.
The interaction between the coronal mass ejection and the Earth's magnetic field can have some interesting effects. It can create colorful auroras in the sky, like the Northern Lights and the Southern Lights. These auroras are caused by the particles from the ejection interacting with the Earth's atmosphere.
However, coronal mass ejections can also disrupt satellite communication, power grids, and other technologies on Earth. So scientists and engineers study them to better understand their behavior and develop ways to protect our technology from their effects.
Are the above two any different?
A solar storm and a coronal mass ejection (CME) are related but slightly different events.
A solar storm is a broader term that refers to various disturbances that occur on the Sun. It includes phenomena like solar flares and CMEs. During a solar storm, the Sun releases a lot of energy in the form of solar flares and CMEs.
On the other hand, a coronal mass ejection specifically refers to a powerful burst of particles and magnetic energy that is expelled from the Sun's atmosphere. It occurs when the Sun's magnetic field becomes twisted and releases a large amount of hot, charged particles into space.
So, in simple terms, a solar storm is like an umbrella term that includes different types of disturbances on the Sun, while a coronal mass ejection is a specific event that happens during a solar storm, where a burst of particles and magnetic energy is released from the Sun.
Back to the main article:
When air reaches them, it effectively implies that air currents will now affect the trajectory of the satellites, especially those with smaller diameters like Starlink satellites.
The satellites could be moved tens of kilometers from their intended locations by the warmer air, which will be more likely to tug and push them about. In addition, this will cause instrument damage and satellite collisions.
Quoting NASA Langley's Martin Mlynczak, according to a story on SpaceWeather.com., “Blame the Sun. Increasing solar activity is heating the top of the atmosphere. The extra heat has no effect on weather or climate at Earth's surface, but it's a big deal for satellites in low Earth orbit,".
The amount of infrared radiation (heat) in the Earth's thermosphere increased considerably as a result of five large geomagnetic storms that occurred in 2023. On January 15, February 16, February 27, March 24, and April 24, they reached their apex.
More of these solar storms are anticipated as the Solar Cycle peaks, which could worsen conditions for Earth's low-orbit spacecraft.