We have an incredibly advanced complex instruments to study time on earth. The space weather is no less complicated – although the opposite, in fact – and therefore one might think that the measures we take to monitor such events should correspond to this complexity.
Astronomers, however, are not so sure that we are almost enough. In an article published on October 6 in the astrophysical journal, the researchers created detailed simulations showing enormous changes in plasma and the magnetic fields of the sun caused by smaller “flow strings” which generally escape the detection range of our existing probes. They argued that this gap in our space time detection systems makes us more vulnerable to potentially dangerous events such as coronal mass ejections, which are powerful plasma and magnetic fields of the crown of the sun which can damage satellites, GPS systems and even eliminate the electric grid.
What the Earth needs, argued the researchers is a new “constellation of spacecrafts” entirely dedicated to monitoring solar activity.
“Imagine that if you could not monitor a hurricane at a distance with the measures of a wind gauge,” said Chip Manchester, the main study and astrophysicist at the University of Michigan, in a statement. “You would see a change in the measurements, but you would not see the entire structure of the storm. This is the current situation with unique Spacecraft systems. We need points of view of several space weather stations.”
A small filament with great consequences
For the study, researchers have modeled the influence of “flow strings”, which are relatively smaller spirals of the plasma tornado and magnetic fields on the sun. These strings are generally not strong enough to trigger CMEs, but under specific conditions, they can rule out enough energy to trigger devastating explosions, revealed the researchers.
“Our simulation shows that the magnetic field of these whirlwinds can be strong enough to trigger a geomagnetic storm and cause real problems,” said Manchester.
A better way to follow the weather
Solar winds only trigger geomagnetic storms when the magnetic field of the sun is oriented south. Our current space detection systems of space are oriented towards this, with surveillance of the spaceships placed strategically to measure the resistance and direction of the solar magnetic field.
What the new simulations suggest, however, is that solar eruptions can emerge from magnetic fields oriented towards the north which could “launch whirlpools with magnetic fields pointing south to earth”, wrote the researchers.
Manchester and his colleagues propose that we build a constellation of satellites that they nicknamed the border of the space meteorological survey, or Swift, which would be able to capture signals from several directions. Composed of four probes arranged in a pyramid, each being about 200,000 miles from the other, the researchers think that the configuration would increase the weather warnings of the space by 40%.
The last major geomagnetic storm of the earth struck in May 2024. Then observers detected disturbances in electrical networks, satellites, agricultural networks and plane trips, according to NASA. The storm also falsified the data signals from space vessels, including the Nasa Odyssey orbiter Odyssey and Rover curiosity. With the sun always in an intense solar activity – the star is supposed to be in its solar maximum, or the moment of its activity cycle when it is most stormy – these warnings of astronomers could still prove to be too premonitory.
