Today we are in the middle of Solar Cycle 25, which began in 2019 and will last approximately until 2030, going through cyclical highs and lows of solar flares, coronal mass ejections and solar storms that will peak this or next year — making this a crucial period of time to invest in solar weather monitoring capabilities.
Why it is important to study solar activity
It is no exaggeration to say that solar flares and the geomagnetic storms they can cause have a significant impact on everyone’s lives. They can cause failures in the operation of satellites that are crucial for maintaining communications and navigation systems on Earth. They can also damage power grids, leading to massive blackouts, and pose radiation risks for astronauts as well as for pilots and passengers of high altitude flights. Active solar cycles increase the frequency and intensity of solar flares and pose danger to all technology and services affected by space weather.
Such disruptions to critical infrastructure can be very costly to the economy of developed nations. Power outages caused by solar activity cost tens of billions of dollars every year. The potential global economic impact of space weather events such as a severe geomagnetic storm are significant and could incur losses totalling 38.4 billion euros ($41.1 billion) per day. More than half of these losses are caused by indirect costs related to disruptions in supply chains. Damage from solar events can lead to logistical delays, production downtimes, increased operating costs, shortages of goods and other problems in international trade.
Solar weather forecasting also plays a crucial role in safe and effective space exploration. Without accurate forecasts and predictive analytics, space missions and the astronauts involved would be at risk of exposure to radiation and equipment malfunctions.
Existing solutions and future needs
In 2024, space weather monitoring and analysis is conducted mainly…
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