The Change Mariner

new ability to produce accurate space weather forecasts helped keep space storm damage to a minimum

Space.com

The sixth in an unprecedented series of strong space storms dished out by the Sun over a 10-day period plowed past Earth Thursday, apparently cutting power to 20,000 Swedish customers. The powerful series of outbursts also claimed two satellites as casualties while fueling a host of minor disruptions to radio broadcasts and airline flight plans.

Never have managers of power and communication systems been challenged to this extent. Scientists said the relatively new ability to produce accurate space weather forecasts helped keep damage to a minimum

As of Friday morning the latest solar upheaval, among the 20 strongest on record, was subsiding. The storm's effects will likely continue, at lowering levels, through much of the day.

Bright lights known as aurora could dance above Earth into the weekend.

The bout of severe space weather may or may not mark the end of an amazing round of activity that zapped a pair of Japanese satellites, caused airlines to reroute commercial flights and forced power grid managers to reduce electricity flows. On multiple occasions, radio frequencies blacked out, affecting communications with pilots and creating static and momentary losses for other users.

During the unusual storminess, the Federal Aviation Administration tested a warning system for the first time, alerting airlines to the possibility of higher doses of radiation that passengers would receive on northerly routes.

Posted by Norm M. Wada at November 1, 2003 12:03 AM | TrackBack
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