Solar Mission Breakthrough in Understanding Powerful Solar Storms

Rising Solar Activity

Solar Mission Breakthrough in Understanding Powerful Solar Storms: The Sun frequently releases bursts of energy that travel across space in the form of solar storms. These storms are driven by Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which are enormous clouds of plasma and magnetic fields. When they reach Earth, they can disturb communication networks, satellites, aviation routes, and even electrical grids.

Static GK fact: The term “space weather” is used globally to describe how solar activity affects Earth and technological systems.

Unusual Behaviour of the 2024 Solar Storm

In May 2024, a powerful solar storm known as Gannon’s Storm displayed an unusual pattern. Data from six U.S. satellites and India’s Aditya-L1 confirmed an unexpected behaviour in the movement of magnetic fields. This rare event provided scientists a chance to observe how strong solar storms evolve during extreme solar activity phases.

Discovery of Magnetic Reconnection

The observations revealed that multiple CMEs collided in space, compressing each other so intensely that the magnetic field lines inside one CME broke and reconnected. This phenomenon is called magnetic reconnection, a process known to release large amounts of energy. The reconnection led to a sudden reversal in magnetic fields, which made the storm more intense. It also accelerated particles at high speeds, indicating a rapid increase in energy.

Static GK Tip: Magnetic reconnection is also responsible for Earth’s auroras during geomagnetic storms.

Impact on Space Systems

The energy released from this reconnection significantly strengthened the storm. This increased the risk to satellites, power systems, and navigation services. Strong solar storms can disrupt GPS, shortwave radio communication used in aviation, and satellite-based internet services. They can also expose astronauts and high-altitude pilots to increased radiation.

Static GK fact: The Carrington Event of 1859 remains the strongest recorded geomagnetic storm impacting Earth.

Role of Aditya-L1 in Global Solar Research

Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based solar observatory, played a crucial role in identifying the magnetic reconnection event. Its high-precision instruments allowed continuous monitoring of the Sun’s corona, solar wind, and magnetic activity. India’s participation in this global study marks a major milestone in heliophysics research.

Aditya-L1 Mission Highlights

Launched aboard PSLV-C57 in September 2023, Aditya-L1 is positioned in a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1), nearly 1.5 million km from Earth. This position provides an uninterrupted view of the Sun. The spacecraft carries seven scientific payloads, including the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS), and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA). These instruments help study solar flares, coronal heating, particle behaviour, and solar wind patterns.

Static GK fact: Lagrange Points are special positions where gravitational forces of two large bodies balance a small object’s motion.

Strengthening India’s Space Science Capabilities

The findings from Aditya-L1 position India as a key contributor to global efforts in understanding the Sun. The mission supports better forecasting of solar storms, essential for protecting Earth’s technological infrastructure. This achievement demonstrates India’s expanding leadership in space-based research and scientific collaboration.

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Solar Mission Breakthrough in Understanding Powerful Solar Storms: