The term space weather is used to describe conditions in space, particularly between the sun and the Earth. Of greatest concern are solar events that have a significant impact on the Earth in general and aviation activities in particular, especially through their effects on communication and navigation systems and increased radiation risks for passengers and crews.
The term space weather originated in the 1950s just as humans were beginning to explore space. But it wasn’t until the 1990s that the term became widely used.
Space weather is associated with the sun’s production of electromagnetic radiation and energetic, charged particles and their associated magnetic fields called plasma. This plasma can escape the sun’s gravity to travel through the solar system. This movement is referred to as the solar wind.
There are two types of major solar eruptions that propel plasma out of the sun’s gravity, enabling it to sign…
