How does space weather affect you?

• Radiation exposure: during extreme solar radiation storms, people travelling in airliners can receive the exposure equivalent of 100 chest x-rays.
• Satellites: we are becoming increasingly dependent on satellites for communications (cell phones), navigation (GPS), etc. Solar radiation storms can interfere with, damage, or destroy satellites.
• Radio communications: navigation signals and high frequency radio communications can be disrupted or even blacked out.
• Power systems: geomagnetic storms can cause power outages by creating power grid fluctuations and damaging transformers.
• Corrosion: the aurora induces strong electrical currents along good conductors such as oil and gas pipelines resulting in corrosion and possible leakage.
• Migratory animals: the magnetosphere and atmosphere protect living things from radiation and plasma. However, creatures, like bees, that use Earth's magnetic fields to navigate are affected by geomagnetic fluctuations.
• Tourism: one positive aspect of solar storms is the beautiful aurora. Visitors wanting to see the northern lights make up an increasingly important winter tourism industry in places like Fairbanks.