What is Space Weather?

There is no greater influence on the Earth and its space environment than that of our local star, the Sun. Did you know, just like Earth, space has weather too? Snowstorms and thunderstorms occur on Earth while in space they are known as "solar storms" and like their counterparts on Earth they too may cause problems for us humans, especially because we are so dependent on satellite technology.

Space weather is caused by four main components. Solar flares consisting of X-ray solar flashes, coronal mass ejections (CME’s), high speed solar wind, and solar energetic particles and refers to the effects that the Sun has on Earth and the planets of the solar system.