Preparing for Solar Storms: Enhancing Space Weather Monitoring and Response

As the Sun approaches its solar maximum, the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, concerns rise about the potential impact of solar storms on Earth’s technological infrastructure, including satellites and power grids. Despite predictions of a relatively weak upcoming solar max, the aging fleet of space weather monitoring satellites, such as SOHO and ACE, underscores the need for updated observational capabilities. The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite, originally proposed in 1998 as “Triana,” has been repurposed to provide critical solar wind measurements from the L1 Lagrange point. However, experts emphasize that beyond monitoring, a comprehensive national response plan is essential to effectively mitigate the risks posed by severe space weather events.

Source: https://www.thespacereview.com/article/2214/1?fbclid=IwY2xjawHKqk1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHe7kcqiKHTeHSmohtj-lcUlodGUTgyWH4jIsqyEmXUYNZ3-DIM8MK3e3GA_aem_XPbnjMz7Pp3MNin-KLwt1A