WEBVTT FILE

1
00:00:00.766 --> 00:00:04.550
From here on Earth,
our Sun looks steady and unchanging,

2
00:00:05.133 --> 00:00:08.700
But, close up,
it's a dynamic, active place.

3
00:00:09.316 --> 00:00:13.500
Loops of superheated
plasma followed tangled magnetic fields

4
00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:18.166
across the surface, while a steady stream
of electrically-charged particles,

5
00:00:18.166 --> 00:00:22.133
the solar wind, expands into space
in all directions.

6
00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:26.700
At times, there are bursts of radiation,
called solar flares,

7
00:00:26.966 --> 00:00:31.800
and explosions of plasma and magnetic
fields, called coronal mass ejections,

8
00:00:32.033 --> 00:00:36.000
sending solar storms racing off into space
through the solar wind.

9
00:00:36.950 --> 00:00:40.716
On Earth, we live in that
constant stream of solar wind

10
00:00:40.716 --> 00:00:43.250
protected by Earth's magnetic field.

11
00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:48.266
But, when the Sun suddenly unleashes
massive amounts of energy and material,

12
00:00:48.616 --> 00:00:52.850
our magnetic field can go haywire during
what's called a geomagnetic storm.

13
00:00:53.900 --> 00:00:57.683
In May 2024, the biggest
geomagnetic storm

14
00:00:57.683 --> 00:00:59.850
in over two decades hit Earth.

15
00:01:00.416 --> 00:01:04.050
The storm spread auroras
to unusually low latitudes,

16
00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:09.316
disrupted GPS-guided tractors, and forced
transatlantic flights to reroute.

17
00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.066
Storms like these are why NASA and NOAA

18
00:01:13.066 --> 00:01:15.383
constantly monitor the Sun's activity.

19
00:01:15.866 --> 00:01:18.950
NOAA provides real-time
monitoring and forecasts of

20
00:01:18.950 --> 00:01:22.550
geomagnetic storms and other potentially
hazardous space weather events.

21
00:01:22.800 --> 00:01:26.783
While NASA's research advances
our understanding of the Sun's behavior

22
00:01:27.116 --> 00:01:30.116
and supports research
computer models used by NOAA.

23
00:01:30.533 --> 00:01:34.200
Our collaboration is vital to better
prepare for space weather.

24
00:01:34.433 --> 00:01:39.483
Together, we help protect our technology
on Earth, satellites in space,

25
00:01:39.483 --> 00:01:42.700
and astronauts as they head
to the Moon and Mars.