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| | UNITED STATES SATELLITE IMAGES | UNITED STATES RADAR IMAGES | UNITED STATES LIGHTNING PROBABILITIES | |
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Current Threat Condition Risk of Terrorist Attacks |
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ENVIRONMENT CENTER |
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ENVIRONMENT CENTER |
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Solar Wind The outward flow of solar particles and magnetic fields from the sun. Typically, solar wind velocities are near 785,000 miles per hour or approximately 350 kilometers per second. The Sun-Earth Void The apparent void between Sun and Earth is actually a maelstrom of solar wind and storm, with interludes of calm, and always bathed in the harsh glow of ultraviolet and x-rays. So strong is the outpouring solar wind, that the Earth's magnetic envelope is distorted and quivering...even as it protects the fragile life on Earth. Solar Sunspots Area seen as a dark spots on the surface of the sun. Sunspots are concentrations of the magnetic flows through the sun's surface. Sunspots typically occur in clusters or groups. They appear dark because they are cooler than the surrounding sun surface. As the number of sunspots increase...so does solar activity. Sunspots are sources of "Solar Flares"...the most violent events in the Solar System. In a matter of minutes, a large flare releases a million times more energy than the largest earthquakes. Solar Cycles The Sun goes through cycles of high and low activity that repeats approximately every 11 years. The number of dark spots on the Sun (sunspots) marks this variation. The most recent solar maximum occurred in July 1989. The most recent solar minimum occurred in September 1986. Geomagnetic Field The magnetic field observed in and around the earth. Geomagnetic Storm A worldwide disturbance of the earth's magnetic field, distinct from regular day and night variations. Solar/Terrestrial Activity Effects Geomagnetic field disturbances may damage electrical power distribution systems, disrupt communications, degrade high-tech navigation systems, or create the spectacular displays of the Northern and Southern lights. The radiation dose from energetic solar particles is an occasional hazard for astronauts and satellites. The Space Environment Center (SEC) SEC's Space Weather Operations branch (SWO) is the national and world warning center for disturbances that can affect people and equipment working in the space environment. Jointly operated by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force, the SWO provides forecasts and warnings of solar and geomagnetic activity to users in government, industry, and the private sector, and continuously monitors, analyzes, and forecasts the environment between the Sun and Earth. The Center receives solar and geophysical data in real time, from a large number of ground based observatories and satellite sensors around the world. SWO forecasters use this data to predict solar and geomagnetic activity and issue worldwide alerts of extreme events. NOAA Space Weather Scales for Geomagnetic Storms, Solar Radiation Storms, and Radio Blackouts. levels, analogous to hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes that convey severity. They list possible effects at each level, how often such events happen, and give a measure of the intensity of the physical causes.
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| | SITE MAP | LEGION INTERNET DIRECTORIES | POST LOCATION DIRECTORIES | TROPICAL STORMS WORLDWIDE | |
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CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY
AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 GULFPORT MISSISSIPPI AS A SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN LEGION COMMUNITY AND ALL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS |
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