Space Weather & Space Climate
NASA/SDO
Our Sun constantly emits solar radiation, which causes space weather and space climate. The effects of this can be as beautiful as aurora and as damaging as power outages. Explore the resources below to learn more!
Featured Scientist: Rebecca Centeno, Ph.D.
ANIMATION: 2017 NORTH AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE
On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse was visible across the contiguous United States, dubbed the "Great American Eclipse." Learn how the High Altitude Observatory at NCAR has been studying eclipses and the Sun's corona since the coronagraph was invented in the 1930s. A coronagraph, like the one pictured above which is on display at the NCAR Mesa Lab, is a type of attachment you can put on a telescope in order to block out the direct light from stars so that nearby objects can be seen.
NCAR EXPLORER SERIES LECTURES
Explore the science of space weather and space climate, and the people studying them, with these science lectures and discussions:
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Keeping an Eye on the Sun's Magnetism — learn about the ways we study our Sun and how the Sun's magnetism drives space weather with Dr. Rebecca Centeno Elliott.
- Space Storms in the Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere — Dr. Stan Solomon discusses the physics and chemistry that controls the ionosphere.
- The Lower Fringes of Outer Space: The Thermosphere & Ionosphere — learn from Dr. Liying Qian about space weather and space climate, and the impact they could have on space technology.
- The Sun, the Moon, and Us: A Guide to the Great American Eclipse of 2017 — Learn about what causes a solar eclipse, the sun's atmosphere, and how scientists study the solar corona with Dr. Scott McIntosh.
METED LEARNING MODULES
MetEd is a free collection of hundreds of training resources on a variety of topics within the Earth system sciences offered through The COMET® Program. A free account is needed to access the modules, which are available in many languages.
- The Sun, The Earth, and Near-Earth Space — learn about solar radiation and space weather
- Space Weather Basics — learn about space weather and its impacts on our Earth and society
UCAR CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION'S LEARNING ZONE
From photos to puzzles to simulations, check out all the learning activities related to space weather and space climate from UCAR SciEd.
