Tag: NOAA
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NZ Agencies Brace for Largest Solar Radiation Storm in Over 20 Years
Overview: A Powerful Space Weather Event Unfolds Early this week, space weather trackers, including the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), reported an S4 “severe” solar radiation storm in progress. Described as the largest of its kind in more than 20 years, the event has caught the attention of New Zealand authorities and researchers who…
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Intense Geomagnetic Storms Could Bring Northern Lights to the Southern US
Overview: A Rare Aurora Opportunity A powerful disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field has scientists predicting a striking display: the aurora borealis, commonly seen in northern latitudes, could be visible across southern Canada and much of the southern tier of the United States on Monday night. While these events are uncommon, strong geomagnetic storms can push…
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Trump Administration Plans to Break Up Colorado’s National Center for Atmospheric Research
Overview: A Bold Reorganisation Proposal The Trump administration has announced a plan to disband and reconfigure the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado. As the largest federal climate research lab, NCAR has long served as a hub for atmospheric science, weather modeling, climate research, and related educational outreach. The proposal, unveiled by Russ…
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Northern lights could be Alberta’s nightlight as geomagnetic storm looms
Alberta braces for a potential aurora night Residents of southern Alberta may be in for a spectacular sky show as space weather forecasts point to a likely geomagnetic storm this weekend. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns of a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm late Thursday night as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from…
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Predicted Doom? Alaska Storm Exposed by Weather Balloon Cuts
Overview: A Storm Forecast Undermined by Data Gaps The deadly storm that battered western Alaska over the weekend exposed a troubling weakness in weather forecasting: a shortage of weather balloon data. Officials say that budget-driven cuts and staffing reductions have reduced the frequency of balloon launches, leaving forecasters with less information to feed into computer…
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Space Weather Watch: A Sail-Powered SWIFT Net Could Detect Solar Tornadoes Faster
New idea: a sentinel fleet to spot space tornadoes before they strike Scientists are proposing a bold new way to monitor the Sun’s volatile tantrums: a small fleet of deep-space spacecraft named Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT). The plan envisions four spacecraft in a strategic arrangement to watch solar activity with unprecedented clarity and speed,…
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A Solar Sail and a Space ‘Pyramid’ Could Speed Up Warnings for Space Weather Tornadoes
Overview: A bold plan to accelerate space weather warnings Scientists have proposed a pioneering constellation—Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT)—designed to watch the sun more closely and deliver faster warnings about dangerous solar eruptions. The plan envisions four deep-space spacecraft working together, with three powered by conventional fuel and a fourth carrying a massive solar sail…
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NASA Launches Three Missions to Study Solar Impact on Earth
NASA’s New Missions: Understanding the Sun’s Influence On September 24, three innovative NASA spacecraft launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Their objective? To enhance our understanding of the Sun and its dual role as both a source of life and a threat through solar storms. With advanced technologies, these missions aim to…
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NASA’s Solar Missions: Protecting Earth from Solar Storms
Introduction to NASA’s Solar Missions The Sun is essential for life on Earth, providing warmth and light. However, its unpredictable solar storms pose significant threats to our planet. To better understand these phenomena, NASA has launched three new space missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aimed at monitoring solar activity and its impact…
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Hurricane Season Highlights: Where Are the Hurricanes?
Understanding the 2023 Hurricane Season The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. This timeframe is critical for meteorologists, oceanographers, and global citizens alike as they prepare for potential storms. As of now, 2023 has seen a total of six tropical cyclones, including one designated hurricane. With predictions forecasting between five…