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Watching solar activity muddle Earth’s magnetic field

29 April 2009

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Effect of extreme solar activity on Earth's magnetosphere

Scientists have found that extreme solar activity drastically compresses the magnetosphere and modifies the composition of ions in the near-Earth environment. They are now challenged to model how these changes affect orbiting satellites, including the GPS system.

Under normal solar conditions, satellites orbit within the magnetosphere — the protective magnetic bubble carved out by Earth’s magnetic field. But when solar activity increases, the picture changes significantly: the magnetosphere gets compressed and particles get energized, exposing satellites to higher doses of radiation that can perturb signal reception. This is why monitoring and forecasting its impact on near-Earth space is becoming increasingly critical to safeguard daily life on Earth. One way to do this is by studying the physics of near-Earth space and observing the impact of such activity in time.

Credits: NASA/ ESA

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High-energy (X-3) solar flare on 13 December 2006

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High-energy (X-3) solar flare on 13 December 2006.

Credits: ESA/NASA/SOHO

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Artist's impression of the Cluster constellation

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Artist's impression of the Cluster constellation.

ESA's mission Cluster consists of four identical spacecraft flying in formation between 19 000 and 119 000 km above the Earth. They study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere, or the Sun-Earth connection in 3D.

Credits: ESA

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An artist's impression of the Double Star mission in orbit.

Credits: ESA

Exploring the Sun-Earth connection

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