NASA Scientists Answer Top Space Weather Questions

Credits

• Animators

  • Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC)
  • Horace Mitchell (NASA/GSFC)
  • Megan Willy (IRC/UMBC)
  • Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)
  • Walt Feimer (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)

• Video editor

  • Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)

• Interviewees

  • C. Alex Young (NASA/GSFC)
  • Holly Gilbert (NASA/GSFC)
  • Phil Chamberlin (NASA/GSFC)

• Producers

  • Genna Duberstein (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
  • Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)

• Videographer

  • Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)

Related Pages

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    First X-Class Solar Flares of 2013

    May 13th, 2013
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    On May 13, 2013, the sun emitted an X2.8-class flare, peaking at 12:05 p.m. EDT. This is the the strongest X-class flare of 2013 so far, surpassing in strength the X1.7-class flare that occurred 14 hours earlier. It is the 16th X-class flare of the current solar cycle and the third-largest flare of that cycle. The second-strongest was an X5.4 event on March 7, 2012. The strongest was an X6.9 on Aug. 9, 2011.On May 12, 2013, the sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 10 p.m. EDT. This flare is classified as an X1.7, making it the first X-class flare of 2013. The flare was also associated with another solar phenomenon, called a coronal mass ejection (CME) that can send solar material out into space. This CME was not Earth-directed. The May 12 flare was also associated with a coronal mass ejection, another solar phenomenon that can send billions of tons of solar particles into space, which can affect electronic systems in satellites and on the ground. Experimental NASA research models show that the CME left the sun at 745 miles per second and is not Earth-directed, however its flank may pass by the STEREO-B and Spitzer spacecraft, and their mission operators have been notified. If warranted, operators can put spacecraft into safe mode to protect the instruments from solar material. There is some particle radiation associated with this event, which is what can concern operators of interplanetary spacecraft since the particles can trip computer electronics on board. ||

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    ID: 11262 Produced Video

    Sun Emits Mid-Level Flare and Prominence Eruption

    May 3rd, 2013
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 1:32 pm EDT on May 3, 2013. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. This disrupts the radio signals for as long as the flare is ongoing, and the radio blackout for this flare has already subsided.This flare is classified as an M5.7-class flare. M-class flares are the weakest flares that can still cause some space weather effects near Earth. Increased numbers of flares are quite common at the moment, as the sun's normal 11-year activity cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in late 2013. ||

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    ID: 11132 Produced Video

    Sun Emits a Mid-level Flare

    Nov. 13th, 2012
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    On Nov. 13, 2012, the sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 9:04 p.m. EST. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. This disrupts the radio signals for as long as the flare is ongoing, anywhere from minutes to hours. This flare is classified as an M6 flare. M-class flares are the weakest flares that can still cause some space weather effects near Earth. They can cause brief radio blackouts at the poles. This M-class flare caused a radio blackout categorized according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's Space Weather Scales as R2 — or "moderate" — on a scale of R1 to R5. It has since subsided. Increased numbers of flares are quite common at the moment, since the sun's normal 11-year activity cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in 2013. Humans have tracked this solar cycle continuously since it was discovered in 1843, and it is normal for there to be many flares a day during the sun's peak activity. The flare was not associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME), another solar phenomenon that can send solar particles into space and can reach Earth one to three days later. When Earth-directed, CMEs can affect electronic systems in satellites and on Earth. ||

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    ID: 11120 Produced Video

    Active Region on the Sun Emits Another Flare

    Oct. 23rd, 2012
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    The sun emitted a significant solar flare on Oct. 22, 2012, peaking at 11:17 p.m. EDT. The flare came from an active region on the left side of the sun that has been numbered AR 1598, which has already been the source of a number of weaker flares. This flare was classified as an X.1-class flare. "X-class" denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. An X2 is twice as intense as an X1, an X3 is three times as intense, and on. An X-class flare of this intensity can cause degradation or blackouts of radio communications for about an hour. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. This can disrupt radio signals for anywhere from minutes to hours. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, which is the United States government's official source for space weather forecasts and alerts, categorized the radio blackout associated with this flare as an R3, on a scale from R1 to R5. It has since subsided. Increased numbers of flares are quite common at the moment, since the sun's normal 11-year activity cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in 2013. Humans have tracked this solar cycle continuously since it was discovered in 1843, and it is normal for there to be many flares a day during the sun's peak activity. The first X-class flare of the current solar cycle occurred on Feb. 15, 2011 and there have been 15 X-class flares total in this cycle, including this one. The largest X-class flare in this cycle was an X6.9 on Aug. 9, 2011. This is the 7th X-class flare in 2012 with the largest being an X5.4 flare on March 7. This flare did not have an associated Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), another solar phenomenon that can send solar particles into space and affect electronic systems in satellites and on Earth. Watch this video on YouTube. ||

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    ID: 11043 Produced Video

    Big Sunspot 1520 Releases X1.4 Class Flare

    July 12th, 2012
    (updated Nov. 14th, 2023)

    An X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun, peaking on July 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM EDT. It erupted from Active Region 1520 which rotated into view on July 6. ||

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    ID: 11034 Produced Video

    AR1515 Releases X1.1 Class Flare

    July 9th, 2012
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    Active Region 1515 released an X1.1 class flare from the lower right of the sun on July 6, 2012, peaking at 7:08 PM EDT. This flare caused a radio blackout, labeled as an R3 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations scale that goes from R1 to R5. Such blackouts can cause disruption to both high and low level radio frequencies.Earth's magnetosphere also underwent a minor geomagnetic storm on the evening of July 6 in response to relatively slow coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that have erupted from other regions on the sun since July 4. ||

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    ID: 10941 Produced Video

    Space Weather FAQ Interviews

    April 24th, 2012
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    NASA scientists answer some frequently asked questions about the sun, space weather, and the effects on Earth. Each video is one or more scientists responding to the question above it. The videos are available as ProRes files for broadcast use and have had minor audio equalizing and color correction applied.The scientists interviewed are:Dr. Holly Gilbert, NASA HeliophysicistDr. Alex Young, NASA HeliophysicistDr. Phil Chamberlin, NASA Research Heliophysicist and SDO Deputy Project ScientistThere are also two short videos created with this interview content. They are available here.Additional responses to these questions are available upon specific request.For space weather-related footage, animations, and features, visit the Space Weather gallery. ||

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