Understanding anthropogenic effects on space weather
Effects of human behavior are not limited to Earth's climate or atmosphere; they are also seen in the natural space weather surrounding our planet. "Space weather" in this context includes conditions in the space surrounding Earth, including the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere. A recent survey by a team of scientists including Phil Erickson, assistant director of MIT Haystack Observatory, has resulted in an article in the journal Space Science Reviews. The study provides a comprehensive review of anthropogenic, or human-caused, space weather impacts, including some recent findings using NASA's Van Allen Probes twin spacecraft. As space scientist James Van Allen discovered in the 1950s and 1960s, two radiation belts surround Earth with a slot between them. The inner edge of the outer Van Allen radiation belt is particularly interesting, as it is composed of high-energy "killer" electrons that have the potential to permanently damage spacecraft. Tracking the inner edge of the radiation belt...