space weather

House Science Committee moves forward with the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act

Sun

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full committee markup on July 24 to consider the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act (S. 141), which passed the Senate by unanimous consent in May 2017. During the House markup, committee members offered three amendments to the space weather bill—two of which were agreed upon by a voice vote.

NWS to Announce Organizational Changes - TODAY 11am EDT

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Logo
National Weather Service (NWS) director will be briefing the press shortly on its "evolving operations, workforce and organizational structure to bring more nationwide consistency to the science and service it delivers." The online press briefing will take place at 11 am EDT. The briefing will feature the National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini, and Deputy Director Laura Furgione.

EARTH Magazine: Solar Storms Cause Spike in Insurance Claims

On March 13, 1989, a geomagnetic storm spawned by a solar outburst struck Earth, triggering instabilities in the electric-power grid that serves much of eastern Canada and the U.S. The storm led to blackouts for more than 6 million customers and caused tens of millions of dollars in damages and economic losses. More than 25 years later, the possibility of another such catastrophe still looms, and the day-to-day effects of space weather on electrical systems remain difficult to quantify. Now, a new study correlating electrical insurance claims with geomagnetic data suggests that even moderate space weather may play a significant role in destabilizing the power grid.
Subscribe to RSS - space weather