Space weather warning from ‘double pulse’ radar

University of Leicester researchers have taken a step forward in helping to create a defence for earth’s technologies from the constant threat of space weather.

In the form of the Aurora Borealis – solar wind can be beautiful, but it can also disrupt modern technology

They have developed radars that allow observations of space weather, which can have devastating impacts for technologies on earth. The “double pulse” radar will form part of a global network of ground based coherent scatter radars called SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network).

James Borderick, of the Radio and Space Plasma Physics group, within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said: “Intense space weather events are triggered by the explosive release of energy stored in the Sun’s magnetic fields.

“A strong burst of electromagnetic energy reaches the Earth with the potential to disrupt many of our fundamental services, such as satellite and aviation operations, navigation, and electricity power grids. Telecommunications and information technology are likewise vulnerable to space weather.”

All modern societies rely heavily on space systems, for communications and resource information (meteorological, navigation and remote sensing). There are high cost and high risks associated with the consequences of space weather events, as insurance companies recognise.

The team implemented a new “double pulse” radar-operating mode on the Radio Space Plasma Physics Group’s Co-operative UK Twin Located Auroral Sounding System (CUTLASS) radars.

“Utilising our new radar mode and the vastness of ground based and space based instruments at our disposal, we are ever increasing our understanding of the countless phenomena associated with the Solar-Terrestrial interaction, and one day, may lead us to the accurate predictions of intense weather events - and an active defence,” said Borderick.

The research introduces the importance of utilising ground-based measurements of the near space environment in conjunction with spacecraft observations and then proceeds to explain the direct influences of space weather on our own technological systems.