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Social Media: Space Weather
#SpaceWeather

 

Please help the National Weather Service spread these important safety messages on social media! Everyone is welcome to use the text and images provided below to help the NWS build a Weather-Ready Nation.

Aurora Colors

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The aurora borealis is usually green in color, although it can also appear to be a range of other colors, including red, blue, pink and purple. The color of the aurora is determined by the altitude in which it appears. Different atmosphere compounds (such as Nitrogen and Oxygen) are found at different altitudes. When charged particles from the Sun enter our atmosphere, they interact with those compounds, and the aurora is the visible result. Depending on which compounds are being excited by the Sun’s charged particles, different colors will result. Learn more at https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/telecons/archive/PR_E-PO/Aurora_flyer/aurora-flyer_p2.doc.pdf

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Red, Green, Blue? Why does the Aurora change colors? Chemistry! https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/telecons/archive/PR_E-PO/Aurora_flyer/aurora-flyer_p2.doc.pdf #SpaceWeather

Why does the aurora change colors? The aurora is usually green, but it can be other colors too. The color is determined by the altitude of the aurora. Atmospheric compounds influence the color.

 

Space Weather: What Are the Impacts? (Video)

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In 1989, a powerful storm triggered a major power blackout in Canada that left 6 million people without electricity for 9 hours. That storm came from space. Watch this video to learn about the impacts of #spaceweather - https://youtu.be/gN3aP6Vr6H8

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In 1989, a powerful storm triggered a major power blackout in Canada that left 6 million people without electricity for 9 hours. That storm came from space. Watch this video to learn about the impacts of #spaceweather - https://youtu.be/gN3aP6Vr6H8

 

Impacts on Communications

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Effective communication systems are critical. Aviation and emergency response communities depend on reliable communications. Radio and satellite communication technologies can experience significant degradation from space weather storms. To learn about space weather impacts visit www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/hf-radio-communications and www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/satellite-communications #SpaceWeather

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Communications systems are critical and can be vulnerable to the Sun! www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/hf-radio-communications and www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/satellite-communications #spaceweather

Space weather can interrupt communications: aviation, emergency response, radio and satellite communications.

 

Power Grid

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Although the Earth’s magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere do a great job protecting us from hazardous space weather, it is still possible for space weather to cause power outages. Find out more about #SpaceWeather impacts at swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/electric-power-transmission.

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The sun is the main source of space weather, & it could even cause power outages! Find out more at swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/electric-power-transmission #SpaceWeather

Space weather can affect the power grid. Learn more at www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts

 

Aurora Borealis

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The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are the result of electrons colliding with the Earth’s upper atmosphere, and are visible when there is an increase in space weather activity. They can be observed in dark and clear areas of North America, Asia, and Europe. To learn more about auroras, visit swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/aurora. #SpaceWeather

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The Northern Lights are visible when there is an increase is space weather activity. Check out swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/aurora. #SpaceWeather

Space weather can be beautiful. The scientific name for northern lights is Aurora Borealis.

 

Solar Flares

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Solar flares are huge explosions of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun lasting from minutes to hours. They are seen as enhancements in optical and extreme ultraviolet/x-ray wavelengths; and can be detected as bursts of noise in radio wavelengths. Solar flares occur in a large range of strengths, have emissions that travel at the speed of light, and reach Earth in eight minutes. They can cause radio blackouts on the sunlit side of the Earth. To learn about radio blackouts, visit www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-flares-radio-blackouts. #SpaceWeather

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Solar flares are energetic explosions from the Sun & can cause radio blackouts from minutes to hours. www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-flares-radio-blackouts #SpaceWeather

What Are Solar Flares? They are huge explosions of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. They can cause blackouts on the sunlit side of the Earth.

 

Coronal Mass Ejections

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Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), are explosive eruptions of plasma from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the Corona. A CME typically carries roughly a billion tons of material outward from the Sun at speeds that can reach millions of miles per hour (thousands of km/s). CMEs may take hours to fully erupt from the Sun and typically take one to four days to travel to Earth. When a CME arrives at Earth, it can lead to geomagnetic storming; especially when the embedded orientation of the magnetic field is opposite that of Earth's. To learn about CMEs visit http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections. #SpaceWeather

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Clouds of plasma that erupt from the Sun are called Coronal Mass Ejections. Learn more http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections #SpaceWeather

What are coronal mass ejections? Explosive eruptions of plasma from the Sun's outer atmosphere. Transports roughly a billion tons of material outward from the Sun. Travels at speeds of millions of miles per hour.

 

GPS

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There are many ways in which space weather impacts GPS. During periods of disturbed space weather, position information can become inaccurate. Learn more about #SpaceWeather impacts on GPS at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/space-weather-and-gps-systems.

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Did you know that space weather can impact GPS reception and reliability? http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/space-weather-and-gps-systems #SpaceWeather

Space Weather can impact GPS, which affects shipping, public works, surveying, and more.

 

Geomagnetic Storm Impacts

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When a Geomagnetic Storm is happening, use this handy chart to find out what it will impact. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation #SpaceWeather

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When a Geomagnetic Storm is happening, what will it impact? http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation #SpaceWeather

What is impacted by a geomagnetic storm? Power systems, spacecraft operation, satellite navigation, high frequency radio.

 

Solar Storm Impacts

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When a Solar Radiation Storm is happening, use this handy chart to find out what it will impact. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation #SpaceWeather

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When a Solar Radiation Storm is happening, what will it impact? http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation #SpaceWeather

What are the impacts of a solar radiation storm? Radio interference, satellite operations, and radiation risk for those in space or high-flying aircraft.

 

Radio Blackout Impacts

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When a Radio Blackout is happening due to space weather, use this handy chart to find out what it will impact. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation #SpaceWeather

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When a Radio Blackout is happening due to space weather, what will it impact? http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation #SpaceWeather

What are the impacts of a radio blackout? Satellite navigation errors. Maritime and aviation navigation errors. High frequency radio degradation or blackout.

 

Space Weather Infographic

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Space weather is a two-sided coin: it creates beautiful auroras, but it can also jeopardize the technologies we rely on daily. See all the impacts of #SpaceWeather at weather.gov/space.

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#SpaceWeather creates beautiful auroras, but can also jeopardize technologies that we rely on daily. See the impacts at weather.gov/space.

Space weather impacts: Aurora (northern lights). GPS. Satellites. Communications. Human space exploration. Aviation. Electric Power.