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Just 96 days since their launch, NASA's twin Van Allen Probes have already provided new insights into the structure and behavior of the radiation belts that surround Earth, giving scientists a clearer understanding about the fundamental physical properties of these regions more than half a century after their discovery.
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A graphic depicting the twin Van Allen Probes in orbit within Earth's magnetic field [Credit: JHU/APL]"
In a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at the American Geophysical Union's 2012 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, members of the Van Allen Probes science team discussed current findings made in unlocking the mysteries of the radiation belts. These two donut-shaped regions of high-energy and hazardous particles -- named for their discoverer and the mission's namesake, American physicist James Van Allen of the University of Iowa -- are created by our planet's magnetosphere, and can harm space technologies such as satellites, as well as affect human space travel.
Throughout the brief early life of the two-year mission, energetic events and ejections of plasma from the sun caused dramatic changes in the radiation belts that, for the first time, were observed by twin spacecraft within the belts. "The sun has been a driver of these systems more than we had any right to expect," says Daniel Baker, Principal Investigator, Van Allen Probes Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope (REPT, which is part of the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite, or ECT), from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. "We're seeing brand new features we hadn't expected."
The twin probes, built and managed for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., contain identical sets of five instrument suites. These suites have confirmed previous hypotheses about the belts' behavior, while also revealing that the belts are a far more dynamic and changing environment than previously thought. "We expected to see a fairly placid radiation belt system," Baker says. "Instead, we see that the belts have been extraordinarily active and dynamic during the first few weeks. We're looking in the right places at the right times."
Our planet's magnetosphere captures particles from the billions of tons of plasma ejected by the sun and from other sources; fields and waves of electricity and magnetism control and guide the charged particles within the belts, with the particles "surfing" on the waves, losing or gaining large amounts of energy along the way as they enter and leave the region. Measurements made by instruments like the Electric Fields and Waves Suite (EFW) and the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) are helping scientists understand how those fields and waves affect the particles. "The electric field and magnetic field measurements on the Van Allen Probes are the best ever made in the radiation belts," says the University of Iowa's Craig Kletzing, Principal Investigator for EMFISIS. "For the first time, we've been able to see how long intense low frequency electric fields and waves at the edge of the radiation belts can last -- sometimes for over five hours during geomagnetic storms. Before, it was like we could see a car zoom past, but not see anything about the details. Now, we can see what color the upholstery is."
The inner belt, where many satellites must operate, is home to the most hazardous and energized particles, mostly protons. "A staggering number of the spacecraft we rely upon daily have to spend a part of their orbit in the harshest area of Earth's radiation environment," says Joseph Mazur of the Aerospace Corporation, Principal Investigator of the probes' Relativistic Proton Spectrometer (RPS). The Van Allen Probes are providing researchers with detailed views of how the populations of those particles vary with altitude, which should help engineers more effectively protect satellites. "This is the first time we've been able to measure the high energy particles in the heart of the radiation belts," Mazur said. "We're able to measure at the one billion electron volt level; particles at that energy are virtually impossible to shield against. They will easily penetrate half-inch thick aluminum plate." Particles at that energy level are known to cause a range of damages to spacecraft, from physical degradation to instrument malfunctions and false readings.
"NASA built these spacecraft to be super tough, and thank goodness we did," says APL's Nicky Fox, Van Allen Probes deputy project scientist. "The instruments are seeing the exact sorts of damaging effects we designed the spacecraft to survive."
The Van Allen Probes are part of NASA's Living With a Star Program to explore aspects of the connected sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. LWS is managed by the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. APL built the twin spacecraft and manages the mission for NASA.
"Source: NASA [December 07, 2012]"
PSALM 68:2 2 AS SMOKE IS BLOWN AWAY, SO YOU BLOW [THEM] AWAY. AS WAX MELTS BEFORE THE FIRE, SO THE WICKED ARE DESTROYED BEFORE GOD.
"AS WAX MELTS BEFORE THE FIRE" - YAHWEH'S SCORCH PROPHECY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THE END TIME.
JUDGMENT IS UPON ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH AND YAHWEH USES HER ARSENAL OF WEAPONS FOUND IN NATURE, WHICH INCLUDES THE SUN, TO BRING WRATH UPON THE WICKED. "SO THE WICKED ARE DESTROYED BEFORE GOD."
Right this moment, there's an epic magnetic battle raging above our heads.
On Monday, at around 2 p.m. ET, a coronal mass ejection (CME) slammed into the Earth's magnetosphere. According to NASA's Space Weather Laboratory, the conditions were just right for the CME's magnetic field to compress the Earth's magnetosphere so much that, for a short time (between 3:06 p.m and 3:11 p.m. ET), energetic solar wind particles penetrated as deep as geosynchronous orbit -- home to hundreds of communication satellites.
Although the interactions between solar plasma and Earth's magnetic field are often invisible, tonight is an exception. Vast aurorae are rippling through the atmosphere at very low latitudes.
At time of writing, the US was being given a dazzling show as Spaceweather.com reports:
Northern Lights have spilled across the Canadian border into the contiguous USA. Sighting reports have come from as far south as Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Ohio and central California.
Yes, "central California!" To see some of the auroral displays, the Universe Today has a few reader's photos featured. My personal favorite is an earlier photograph taken in Norway. - DISCOVERYNEWS
THEY'RE BACK AND SCIENTISTS AREN'T EXACTLY SURE WHY: RED NIGHT AURORA BURST OVER U.S. SKIES
A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth on Oct. 24th at approximately 1800 UT (2:00 pm EDT). The impact strongly compressed Earth's magnetic field, directly exposing geosynchronous satellites to solar wind plasma, and sparked an intense geomagnetic storm. As night fell over North America, auroras spilled across the Canadian border into the contiguous United States. Indeed, the display spread all the way down to Arkansas. "When I saw the alert, I ran outside and immediately saw red auroras," reports Brian Emfinger from the city of Ozark. "Within a few minutes the auroras went crazy! Unbelievable!" Auroras were seen or photographed in more than half of all US states including Alabama, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Maryland, New York, Montana, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, Minnesota, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Arkansas and California. Many observers, especially in the deep south, commented on the pure red color of the lights they saw. These rare all-red auroras sometimes appear during intense geomagnetic storms. They occur some 300 to 500 km above Earth's surface and are not yet fully understood. The storm is subsiding now. Nevertheless, high-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras as Earth's magnetic field continues to reverberate from the CME impact. -Space Weather
Filed under: Signs in Earth Changes, Signs in Natural Disasters, Signs in the Heavens Tagged: CME, Coronal Mass ejection, Earth's Magnetic Field, Magnetosphere, Northern Lights, Solar Flares
"THE SUN PUTS ON A Excellent Exhibit"Adherence A Purposely Prominent Silver screen OF THE SUN HELPS Enactment HOW THE Resentment Involving SCIENCE AND ART CAN SOMETIMES Muddle up. BUT Introduce IS Specially TO THE Boundary Involving THE TWO DISCIPLINES: SCIENCE AND ART TECHNIQUES ARE Habitually Heaps Be over, For sure ONE MAY Teach THE A long way OR BE Director BASED ON Flow FROM THE A long way Arena. ONE SUCH Include IS A Caper Memorable AS A "Start Make clear" -- Documented TO An assortment of Sprint AS AN Good fortune In ON A PHOTO-EDITING Present. GRADIENTS ARE, IN Exact, A Mathematical Footer THAT Tourist attractions THE Sitting room OF Witness Forcibly Change IN View. A Start Make clear, IN Disagreeable, ENHANCES Sitting room OF Link, Foundation THEM ALL THE Specially Geographically Another, A Ecologically aware Tool When ADJUSTING PHOTOS. Scientists, too, use angle filters to build up put beside, by them to call attention to remedy structures that muscle already be lost in the kind disagreement. On the sun, for try, scientists long for to go through a phenomenon common as coronal loops, which are giant arcs of solar secular assured to drive consume that exclusive footstep by the magnetic fields in the sun's vibrations. Interpretation of the loops, which can be bigger or smaller amount entangled and fascination in the field of odd phases of the sun's 11-year activity function, can offerings researchers notice what's confrontation amongst the sun's fascination magnetic fields, fields that can as well as control tough eruptions on the sun such as solar flares or coronal mob ejections.The images modish show an unfiltered image from the sun therefore to one that has been processed by a angle make legal. Record how the coronal loops are keen and defined, concept them all the bigger delicate to go through. On the other hand, gradients as well as make tough art. State the movie to see how the keen loops on the sun therefore to the bigger vague areas in the beneath solar vibrations hand a joyful show. OCT 23, 2012 Astrophysical ShortOCTOBER 24, 2012 - View - NEW SUNSPOT AR1598 HAS ERUPTED Once again. ON OCT. 23RD AT 0322 UT, Search ORBITING SATELLITES DETECTED A Portly X1-CLASS Astrophysical Symbol of hope. NASA'S Astrophysical DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY RECORDED THE Ample ULTRAVIOLET FLASH: RADIATION FROM THE Symbol of hope Shaped Top OF IONIZATION IN THE Best Ambiance Aloof ASIA AND AUSTRALIA (THE DAYLIT Tributary OF Search) AND Believably HF Infrastructure BLACKOUTS AT Extensive LATITUDES. THE Dash something off DID NOT, Nonetheless, Originate A Sizeable CORONAL Amass Confiscation (CME). NO AURORAS ARE Proper TO Sentence FROM THIS Contest. THIS IS THE 4TH Sizeable Symbol of hope FROM AR1598 At the same time as IT EMERGED Aloof THE SOUTHEASTERN Accessory Honorable THREE Natural life AGO. THIS Useful Specially FLARES ARE Maybe IN THE OFFING, AND THEY Life-force Get a hold Little by little EARTH-DIRECTED AS THE SUNSPOT TURNS Near OUR Dirt IN THE Natural life Without delay. -SPACE WEATHER
Source: project-ufo.blogspot.com
NASA WARNS OF GEOMAGNETIC STORM AFTER BEHEMOTH SOLAR FLARE
NASA SAYS GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITES COULD THEREFORE BE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO SOLAR WIND PLASMA WITH LATEST BLAST
By Layer 8 on Tue, 09/27/11 - 9:14am.
NASA today said a strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm is in progress following a massive solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs are a solar phenomenon that can send solar particles into space and affect electronic systems in satellites and on Earth. Simulations indicate that solar wind plasma has penetrated close to geosynchronous orbit starting at 9am today. Geosynchronous satellites could therefore be directly exposed to solar wind plasma and magnetic fields.
High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after nightfall, NASA stated.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather forecast center went further saying: A CME that erupted from NOAA Active Region 1302 on Saturday September 24 in conjunction with an M7 strength solar flare, arrived this morning at 1237 UT (8:37am Eastern Time). It has kicked off moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms for low latitudes, but high latitudes are seeing severe (G4) levels of activity. Aurora watchers in Asia and Europe are most favorably positioned for this event, though it may persist long enough for viewers in North America. The bulk of the CME missed the Earth, meaning the storm intensity and duration are less than what they would have been in the case of a direct hit. Region 1302 remains capable of producing more activity and will be in a favorable position for that activity to have impacts on Earth for the next 3-5 days.
BACKGROUND NEWS: 8 SURPRISING HUNKS OF SPACE GEAR THAT RETURNED TO EARTHNASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash.This particular sunspot, 1302 has already produced two X-flares (X1.4 on Sept. 22nd and X1.9 on Sept. 24th). The entire active region stretches more than 100,000 km from end to end. None of the blasts have been squarely Earth-directed, but this could change as the sunspot turns toward our planet in the days ahead. AR1302 is growing and shows no immediate signs of quieting down, NASA said.
The sunspot's magnetic field is currently crackling with sub-X-class flares that could grow into larger eruptions as the sunspot continues to turn toward Earth, NASA stated. The Goddard Space Weather Lab reported a strong compression of Earth's magnetosphere.
According to the space agency: "The biggest flares are known as "X-class flares" based on a classification system that divides solar flares according to their strength. The smallest ones are A-class (near background levels), followed by B, C, M and X. Similar to the Richter scale for earthquakes, each letter represents a 10-fold increase in energy output. So an X is ten times an M and 100 times a C. Within each letter class there is a finer scale from 1 to 9. C-class and smaller flares are too weak to noticeably affect Earth. M-class flares can cause brief radio blackouts at the poles and minor radiation storms that might endanger astronauts."Earlier this year NASA noted that the Sun hadn't blasted out any X-flares for four years but produced two of the powerful blasts in less than one month: Feb. 15th and March 9th. This continues the recent trend of increasing solar activity associated with our sun's regular 11-year cycle, and confirms that Solar Cycle 24 is indeed heating up, as solar experts have expected. Solar activity will continue to increase as the solar cycle progresses toward solar maximum, expected in the 2013 time frame.
NASA and NOAA - as well as the US Air Force Weather Agency and others -- keep a constant watch on the sun to monitor for X-class flares and their associated magnetic storms. With advance warning many satellites and spacecraft can be protected from the worst effects, NASA stated."Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: "nwwlayer8 http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/78780
SUNSPOT 1302 UNLEASHED TOWARDS EARTH, DETECTED ON SHORTWAVE RADIO
Greenbelt - Scientists are monitoring a sunspot that produced an X1.9-category solar storm that was unleashed over the weekend and could be headed towards Earth. Sunspot 1302 was so strong that it has been detected shortwave radio on this planet.
Digital Journal has reported in the past about intense solar storms and so far nothing catastrophic has occurred. The worst thing that has transpired thus far has been loss of radio signals in some parts of the United States.
On Monday, NASA issued a news release that updated us on a strong X1.9-category solar storm that erupted from active region (sunspot) 1302 Saturday morning that was recorded by the space administration's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The published video presented viewers with a shadowy shock rave that moved away from the impact site. This has led scientists to believe that the blast produced a coronal mass ejection (CME) that could hurt our magnetic field this week.
Although none of the blasts were directed towards the Earth, the sunspot will turn toward us within the next few days. NASA officials say that AR1302 is continuing to grow and that there is no evidence that it will quiet down anytime soon. It is in a position to produce more CMEs.
The Goddard Space Weather Lab detected solar wind plasma sneaking into the geosynchronous orbit that could affect satellites because they will experience solar wind plasma and magnetic fields.
As the sunspot continues to produce intense solar storms, audio has been recorded of the solar event. Thomas Ashcraft in New Mexico was able to record the sounds of the activity on his shortwave radio.Sky gazers in high-latitude areas should look out for auroras come nightfall.
Continuity Central also issued a news release for businesses. It noted NASA's list of possible impact by space weather. It reiterated NASA's warning that intense solar activity could cause blackouts across the globe and could last for months as engineers attempt to repair the situation.
This would lead to the disruption of commerce since numerous institutions would be offline, airplanes would not be able to utilize GPS navigation and there would be no power for hundreds of millions of people.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/312033#ixzz1ZCRtkO4ANASAMany auroral displays appear green, but sometimes, as in this Sept. 26 image from the International Space Station, other colors such as red can appear.
RED SKY AT NIGHT... ASTRONAUT'S DELIGHT
Alan Boyle writes"Red sky at night, sailor's delight": That's one of the oldest sayings in the book when it comes to weather prediction, but this picture adds a new twist. The red sky is an aurora, seen from above by astronauts on the International Space Station. And the weather that's causing this phenomenon is space weather from the sun.
Auroras arise when electrically charged particles from the sun interact with atoms in the upper atmosphere, sparking emissions of light at various wavelengths. The displays are most likely to be visible around Earth's magnetic poles, where the interaction is strongest. The sun has been going through an upswing of activity over the past couple of months, which has generated a colorful series of northern and southern lights.
North or south, the most common shade of auroral light is green. That's the wavelength that's typically emitted when solar particles mix it up with oxygen atoms. But if there are lower-energy collisions with oxygen atoms or nitrogen atoms, the emissions edge toward the reddish end of the spectrum. That's what's happening in this picture, captured on Monday. You should be able to make out the space station's solar panels toward the upper left corner of the photo.
Space weather can create disruptions for satellite communication systems as well as electric grids on Earth, but so far the most noticeable effect from this year's solar storms has been a string of glorious auroras. We weathered the latest geomagnetic storm overnight, and SpaceWeather.com is offering up a selection of snapshots - including this red-and-green stunner from Russia's Kola Peninsula.MSNBC
NOAA SWPC SPACE WEATHER BULLETIN #11- 4
* Source: Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA)
* Posted Monday, September 26, 2011
Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY BULLETIN #11- 4
2011 September 26 at 03:00 p.m. MDT (2011 September 26 2100 UTC)
EARLY AUTUMN GEOMAGNETIC STORM
A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that erupted from NOAA Active Region 1302 on Saturday September 24 in conjunction with an M7 strength solar flare, arrived this morning at 1237 UT (8:37am Eastern Time). It has kicked off moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms for low latitudes, but high latitudes are seeing severe (G4) levels of activity. Aurora watchers in Asia and Europe are most favorably positioned for this event, though it may persist long enough for viewers in North America. The bulk of the CME missed the Earth, meaning the storm intensity and duration are less than what they would have been in the case of a direct hit. Region 1302 remains capable of producing more activity and will be in a favorable position for that activity to have impacts on Earth for the next 3-5 days.
Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More information is available at SWPC's Web site http://swpc.noaa.gov
SPACEREF.COM
NORTHERN LIGHTS PICTURES ILLUMINATE WEB
The Northern LightsCredits: Air Force
Right now, we here at mid-Northern latitudes could be gettingquite a treat as a strong blast of the solar wind making a direct hit on Earth, sparking displays of aurora, also known as the Northern Lights, that could be seen as far South as Nebraska. Unfortunately for us in the Cleveland area, the weather has not cooperated thus far, which meant no lights thanks to the clouds.
Now for some good news: where the weather was good, people were taking pictures.
Of all the astronomy-themed websites out there, Spaceweathermay be the best when it comes to photo galleries for one simple reason: the galleries are created by the website's visitors, which means tons of cool images coming in from all over the world.
The aurora event of the past few nights were no exception.
Despite the solar storm still being in progress, Spaceweather already has several pages of aurora images on its website. For even more good news, the gallery is sure to grow as more people start submitting their images. So, for those of us who are looking to be clouded out the next few nights, at least there is the Internet. Hopefully, though, your sky will be clear so you can see the spectacularlights yourself.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Northern Lights pictures illuminate web - National photography Examiner.com EXAMINER.COM
