1. Space Weather: From The Sun To The Earth
Adapted from: Philip Erickson
Atmospheric Sciences Group
MIT Haystack Observatory
REU Program Lecture
June 5, 2012

2. The Sun : Our Dynamic Star
A Local Source of Space Weather
Driven by Nuclear Fusion
Variable on Many Time Scales

3. The Solar Cycle

4. March 13, UTC Sunspot AR1429

5. Solar Flares At the Sun’s Surface
Solar surface (TRACE satellite)
Field lines are “painted”
with plasma;
Magnetohydrodynamic
twisting causes severe
distortions (and energy
storage)

6. Solar Temperatures Vary At Different Atmospheric Levels

7. Solar Phenomena
Flares
Solar Wind
Sunspots
Granulations

8. The Magnetosphere
Dipole Magnetic Field
The Earth's Magnetic Field Interacts with the Solar Wind
The Solar Wind is Deflected Around the Earth
The Earth's Magnetic Field is Distorted

9. Plasma and Magnetic Fields
Maxwell’s Laws: Charged particle
must oscillate around magnetic
fields (gyroresonance)
Plasma: state of matter with
negatively charged electrons,
positively charged ions
interacting by electromagnetic
forces and collisions
Universe is filled with plasma…

10. The Space Weather Environment
Travel Time =
Days
Bow Shock
Magnetopause
Solar Flare
Solar Wind
Direction

11. Sun – Earth System Overview

12. Auroral Activity Aurora and Airglow From STS-100 Shuttle (NRL)
28 November 2000 Nome, Alaska
John Russell
Aurora and Airglow From STS-100 Shuttle (NRL)

13. Geomagnetic Storms
Atmospheric Response

14. Space Weather Effects Geomagnetic Storms Disrupt Technological Systems
Radiation Hazards
Damage to Satellites
Communications Failures
GPS Navigation Problems

15. Haystack Observatory
Millstone Hill Observatory
Firepond Optical
Facility

16. Millstone Hill Observatory
150 foot steerable antenna
220 foot zenith antenna
Firepond LIDAR is a laser that bounces off the lower atmosphere
Millstone dishes look at upper atmosphere
Zenith antenna like Aricebo in PR shown in the first Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie
MENTION HERE:
Notice that the Millstone dishes are a wire mesh
Radio waves - like sand falling through the fingers vs. rocks
Can observe during the day and in rain and snow
NEXT:
One aspect of the atmospheric science research

17. Web-Accessible Space Weather Information