Space weather is controlled by the Sun. For more on space, see: https://spaceweather.com/ Of special note is the decreasing radiation (gamma rays) from space, which is being swept aside by the new activity in the Sun.
The radiation drop is caused by increasing solar activity. Solar Cycle 25 has roared to life faster than forecasters expected. The sun's strengthening and increasingly tangled magnetic field repels cosmic rays from deep space. In addition, solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) sweep aside cosmic rays, causing sharp reductions called "Forbush Decreases." The two effects blend together to bring daily radiation levels down.
Cosmic rays are a surprisingly importyant form of space weather. They can alter the chemistry of the atmosphere, trigger lightning, and pass through commercial airplanes. According to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan school of public health, crews of aircraft have higher rates of cancer than the general population. The researchers listed cosmic rays, irregular sleep habits, and chemical contaminants as leading risk factors. A number of controversial studies (#1, #2, #3, #4) go even further, linking cosmic rays with cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Original working URL: www.swpc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/images/u33/swx_poster_a.jpg
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
