HR: 08:55h
AN: U31B-04 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Observations and Impact Assessments of Extreme Space Weather Events
AU: * Baker, D N
EM: daniel.baker@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: LASP/U. of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303-7814, United States
AB: "Space weather" refers to conditions on the Sun, in the solar wind, and in Earth`s magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere. Activity on the Sun such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections can lead to high levels of radiation in space and can cause major magnetic storms at the Earth. Space radiation can come as energetic particles or as electromagnetic emissions. Adverse conditions in the near-Earth space environment can cause disruption of satellite operations, communications, navigation, and electric power distribution grids. This can lead to a variety of socioeconomic losses. Astronauts and airline passengers exposed to high levels of radiation are also at risk. Society`s vulnerability to space weather effects is an issue of increasing concern. We are dependent on technological systems that are becoming more susceptible to space weather disturbances. We also have a permanent human presence in space with the International Space Station and the President and NASA have expressed a desire to expand our human space activities with missions to the moon and Mars. This will make space weather of even greater concern in the future. In this talk I will describe many space weather effects and will describe some of the societal and economic impacts that extreme events have had.
DE: 6304 Benefit-cost analysis
DE: 6344 System operation and management
DE: 7914 Engineering for hazard mitigation
DE: 7924 Forecasting (2722)
DE: 7984 Space radiation environment
SC: Union [U]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly