Geomagnetic Storms & Their Effect on Humankind

8/8/2019 Geomagnetic Storms & Their Effect on Humankind

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1. An introduction on Geomagnetic storm

2.Types of GM storms

3.Effects & Consequences


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Schematic view on CME from sun (left) to Earth (right) through IMF


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CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) from Sun


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Magnetopause

Magnetosphere in the near-Earth space environment


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Hourly Dst values for a storm event

Recurrent stormsNon recurrent storms::

Sudden commencement

Gradual commencement

Initial phaseMain phase

Recovery phase


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Geomagnetic storm effects

1). Radiation hazards to humans

2).Biological effects

3). Disrupted systems


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1). Radiation hazards to humans

very-high-energy particles that can cause radiation

poisoning to humans (and mammals in general).

When they penetrate into living cells can cause

chromosome damage, cancer, and a host of other

health problems. Large doses can be fatal immediately.


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2). Biology

Studies indicate that physically stressed human

biological systems may respond to fluctuations in the

geomagnetic field.

The degradation of homing pigeons & migrating

mammals (Ex. Whales, dolphins) navigational

abilities during geomagnetic storms.


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3). Disruptedsystems

a. Communications

Ionospheric storms can affect radio communication at

all latitudes. Some radio frequencies are absorbed and

others are reflected, leading to rapidly fluctuating

signals and unexpected propagation paths.


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b. Navigation systems

S ystems such as GPS, LORAN, and OMEGA are

adversely affected when solar activity disrupts their signal

propagation. Airplanes and ships used the very low

frequency signals from these transmitters to determine

their positions. During solar events and geomagnetic

storms, the system gave navigators information that is

inaccurate by as much as several miles.


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c. Satellite hardware damage

GM storms and increased solar UV emission heat

Earth's upper atmosphere, causing it to expand. The

heated air rises, and the density at the orbit of satellites

up to about 1,000 km increases significantly. This resultsin increased drag on satellites in space, causing them to

slow and change orbit slightly. Unless LEO satellites are

routinely boosted to higher orbits, they slowly fall, and

eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere.


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d. Geologic exploration

Earth's magnetic field is used by geologists to

determine subterranean rock structures. For the most

part, these geodetic surveyors are searching for oil, gas,

or mineral deposits. They can accomplish this only when

Earth's field is quiet, so that true magnetic signatures

can be detected.


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e. Electric grid

Due to a huge GM storm on March 13, 1989 in

Quebec, as well as across parts of the northeastern

U.S., the electrical supply was cut off to over 6 million

people for 9 hours.

130 million people would be left without power and

350 transformerswould be broken, with a cost totaling

2 trillion dollars during another storm.


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f. Pipelines

Flow meters in the pipeline can transmit erroneous flow

information, and the corrosion rate of the pipeline is

dramatically increased.


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http://spaceweather.com/

References:


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Schematic view of Earths atmospheric layers

Geomagnetic Storms & Their Effect on Humankind

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