Space Tsunami Helps Protect Against Solar Winds That Can Destroy Power Grids, GPS

Extreme space weather at heights of 100 to 70,000 kilometers can have an adverse effect on Earth's power, navigation and telecommunication systems due to the disruption caused to satellites that orbit at these altitudes, as per a research by scientists from the University of Alberta. The researching team of scientists had conducted a study to solve a mysterious occurrence in our planet's magnetosphere, the protective shield around Earth that deflects and absorbs harmful solar winds and radiation.

The temporary appearance of a third Van Allen Belt in the magnetosphere in 2013 had baffled scientists. Incidentally, the inner and outer Van Allen Belts in the Earth's magnetosphere are the regions where high energy electrons and protons are trapped by the magnetic field of our planet. In the study, the researchers explained for the first time how the third Van Allen Belt was formed by drastic space storms.

"We found much, much larger waves in the system than we thought, a kind of space tsunami," said Ian Mann, lead author of the study. "It is sloshing this radiation around much more than we previously thought and it kind of washes away large parts of the outer radiation belt". The process of washing away makes the area safer for spacecraft by removing radiation, which explains the creation of the third radiation belt. The scientists observed the phenomenon with the help of NASA's $700-million Van Allen Probes mission, comprising of two spacecraft that investigate space radiation.

According to the scientists, the findings of the research can help in designing advanced technology in the future which can handle extreme space weather better. At the moment, researchers give an estimation of US$2 trillion loss that can be incurred if a severe weather storm damages Earth and space infrastructure. The US government recently announced the implementation of a plan for the reduction of drastic space weather's disastrous effect with the development of steps to protect infrastructure.