The magnetic field is disturbed. Magnetic storms: impact on human health

Earth, which can last from several hours to several days. It arises as a result of the interaction of solar wind flows and the planet’s magnetosphere. A magnetic storm (geomagnetic) is the most important component of the physics of interaction between the Earth and the Sun and is called “space weather”. To describe the storm and its power, the Dst and Kp indices are used. Most often, such field disturbances are observed in the middle and low latitudes of the Earth.

The birth of a storm

The sun is a huge vat filled with seething atoms. The farther the light is from our planet, the stronger it is able to influence it with the power of its wind. If the flow speed is approximately 300 km/s, then everything is in order on Earth; geomagnetic calm is observed.

Periodically, spots called flares appear on the Sun. Their magnetic field is much stronger than the earth's. Their power can be compared to the simultaneous eruption of 10 million volcanoes or to a powerful explosion of 200-250 hydrogen bombs. As a result of such flares, large numbers of protons and electrons are ejected into space. The Earth, being a strong magnet, attracts them to itself, disrupts its own field, and it begins to change its properties. From this it follows that a geomagnetic storm is a sharp change in the magnetic constancy of our planet as a result of high solar activity.

The connection between man and storm

It has been proven that a number of external natural factors influence a person’s general well-being. One of the first places among them is occupied by a geomagnetic storm. It has a strong influence on a person, primarily affecting cordially- vascular system. It has been noticed that on such days people get tired faster, and tachycardia does not work properly. According to statistical data on cases of myocardial infarction in the Moscow region, over the past 3 years, 13% of cases occurred during periods of geomagnetic instability. After the study, scientists proposed to equip ambulance teams with instruments showing changes in magnetic field Earth.

In addition, it has been proven that during geo magnetic storms the number of car accidents is increasing, and the number of suicides is increasing 4-5 times compared to favorable days. About 60% of the world's population is susceptible not only to changes in the magnetic field, but also to solar flares themselves. It is impossible to hide from the adverse effects, but there are places where a person has the strongest impact:

• In airplane. At an altitude of 10,000 m, a person is not protected by a layer of air, as on Earth. Plane accidents happen more often on turbulent days.
• In the north. Residents of cities located north of the 60th parallel are more often exposed to space weather than others.

• In underground tunnels and subways. Low-frequency electromagnetic fields are observed here, which are much more dangerous than natural flares and storms. Their highest concentration was recorded in the driver's cabin, at the edge of the platform and in the cars. That is why almost all drivers of underground transport are diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and passengers often suffer from heart attacks.

Impact on devices and computing equipment

A geomagnetic storm is an enemy not only for human health, but also for various areas of human activity. Communications are disrupted, navigation systems of aircraft, sea and spaceships, free charges appear on the surface of transformers and pipelines. Energy systems may also fail. Therefore, it is very important to predict days of geomagnetic field instability in advance.

How to help yourself during periods of flares and changes in the magnetic field?

A 20-minute contrast shower will help tone the entire vascular system, heart, and invigorate the body and spirit. Doctors recommend sticking to these days proper nutrition: eat vegetables, fish, legumes, drink more liquid in the form of mineral water with lemon. Do not expose yourself to increased physical activity. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. You should try not to be nervous, avoid conflict situations. People suffering from low or high blood pressure Always keep the necessary medications with you.

Carrington Event

The geomagnetic storm of 1859 was named after British astronomer Richard Carrington. The day before, he observed flares on the Sun. Carrington recorded one of the strongest and concluded that there would soon be a geomagnetic storm on Earth.

It really turned out to be a powerful one that covered almost all countries. In early September, the northern lights were observed all over the world, even over the Caribbean Sea. Telegraph workers suffered greatly from the magnetic hurricane. America and Europe lost telegraph communication. Some devices continued to work despite being de-energized.

The face of the modern apocalypse

If such a force majeure event happened today, it could easily be called the end of the world. Humanity would be left without television, all means of communication: telephone, Internet. The only thing that would continue to work would be secret military developments that are protected from radiation.

A moderate geomagnetic storm occurs almost constantly on Earth. Regular northern lights are observed at the south and north poles, which are visible even to astronauts. Moderate fluctuations do not cause a sharp deterioration in people's health. Humanity has already become accustomed to such changes in the earth's magnetic field.

Lasting from several hours to several days, caused by the arrival in the vicinity of the Earth of disturbed high-speed streams of solar wind and the associated shock wave. Geomagnetic storms occur mainly in the middle and low latitudes of the Earth.

As a result of solar flares, they are ejected into outer space. great amount substance (mainly protons and electrons), part of which, moving at a speed of 400-1000 km/s, reaches the earth’s atmosphere in one to two days. The Earth's magnetic field captures charged particles from outer space. Too strong a flow of particles disturbs the planet's magnetic field, causing the magnetic field characteristics to change quickly and greatly.

Thus, a geomagnetic storm is a rapid and strong change in the Earth's magnetic field that occurs during periods of increased solar activity.

The peak of solar activity during the previous solar cycle occurred in 2001-2002, when solar winds emanated from the surface of our star almost constantly, and sunspots reached their maximum. At the same time, experts noted the extremely unfavorable consequences of activity for our planet - electronic equipment malfunctioned, satellites in orbit worked with errors.

The most powerful flare in the history of observational astronomy occurred on November 4, 2003. Its energy, as calculations have shown, could be enough to supply electricity to a city like Moscow for 200 million years.

The influence of magnetic storms on people's lives and health

Geomagnetic storms affect many areas of human activity, from which we can highlight disruptions in communications, spacecraft navigation systems, the appearance of surface charges on transformers and pipelines, and even the destruction of energy systems.

Magnetic storms also affect people's health and well-being. They are dangerous primarily for those who suffer arterial hypertension and hypotension, heart disease. Approximately 70% of heart attacks hypertensive crises and strokes occur precisely during solar storms.

Magnetic storms are often accompanied by headaches, migraines, rapid heartbeat, insomnia, feeling unwell, decreased vitality, pressure changes. Scientists attribute this to the fact that when the magnetic field fluctuates, capillary blood flow slows down and tissue oxygen starvation occurs.

In the 1930s in Nice (France), it was accidentally observed that the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke in older people increased sharply on days when the local telephone exchange experienced severe disruptions to the point of a complete loss of communication. Subsequently, it was found that telephone communication disruptions occur during magnetic storms. On this basis, it was concluded that heart attacks and strokes, as well as telephone network disruptions themselves, are associated with magnetic storms.

At one time, the issue of the influence of solar activity on the occurrence of accidents and injuries in transport and in production caused heated debate. This was first pointed out back in 1928 by Alexander Chizhevsky, and in the 1950s, German scientists Reinhold Reiter and Karl Werner established them from an analysis of about 100 thousand car accidents sharp increase on the second day after the solar flare. Later, a Russian forensic physician from Tomsk, Vladimir Desyatoe, discovered a sharp increase in the number of suicides (4-5 times compared to days of a quiet Sun) also on the second day after the solar flare. And this just corresponds to the beginning of magnetic storms.

According to various sources, from 50 to 75% of the Earth's population are subject to the negative effects of magnetic storms. In this case, the moment of the onset of the stress reaction can shift relative to the beginning of the storm by different periods for different storms and for a particular person. Many people begin to react not to magnetic storms themselves, but 1-2 days before them, i.e. at the moment of flares on the Sun itself.

It has also been noted that up to 50% of the planet's population is capable of adaptation, i.e. to a reduction to zero of the reaction to several consecutive magnetic storms with an interval of 6-7 days, and that young people practically do not feel the effects of magnetic storms.

The theory of the influence of magnetic storms on humans has opponents who are of the opinion that gravitational disturbances associated with changes relative position The Earth, Moon and planets of the solar system are immeasurably small in comparison with those to which people are exposed in ordinary life (shaking, acceleration and braking in public transport, sharp descent and ascent, etc.).

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

According to various sources, from 50 to 70% of the world's population are susceptible to the negative effects of magnetic storms. Moreover, the onset of such a stress reaction in a particular person during different storms may shift to different times.

For some, the reaction occurs 1-2 days before a geomagnetic disturbance, when solar flares occur, for others, they begin to feel unwell at the peak of the magnetic storm, for some, the malaise manifests itself only some time after it.

If you listen to yourself, observe changes in your health status and conduct an analysis, it is possible to discover a connection between deteriorating health and the forecast of the geomagnetic situation of the earth.

What are magnetic storms?

Magnetic storms most often occur in low and middle latitudes of the planet and last from several hours to several days. This comes from a shock wave of high-frequency solar wind flows. From solar flares, a large number of electrons and protons are released into space, which are sent to the earth at great speed and reach its atmosphere within 1-2 days. Charged particles in a strong flow change the planet's magnetic field. That is, this phenomenon occurs during a period of high solar activity, disturbing the earth's magnetic field.

Fortunately, such flares occur no more than 2-3 times a month, which scientists can predict by recording flares and the movement of the solar wind. Geomagnetic storms can vary in intensity, from minor to very aggressive. During powerful disturbances, such as September 11, 2005, satellite navigation functions were disrupted and communications were cut off in some areas North America. In the 50s of the last century, scientists analyzed almost 100,000 car accidents, and as a result found that on the 2nd day after solar flares, the number of accidents on the roads increased sharply.

Magnetic storms are most dangerous for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, arterial hypotension or hypertension, veto-vascular dystonia or mental illness. Young, healthy people practically do not feel the influence of magnetic vibrations.

How do magnetic storms affect human health?

Geomagnetic storms can have a huge impact on human activity - destruction of energy systems, deterioration of communications, failures of navigation systems, increased incidence of injuries at work, plane and car accidents, as well as on people’s health. Doctors also found that it is during magnetic storms that the number of suicides increases 5 times. Residents of the North, Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, and residents of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and Syktyvkar suffer especially greatly from geomagnetic fluctuations.

Therefore, just a few days after solar flares, the number of suicides, heart attacks, strokes, and hypertensive crises increases. According to various sources, during magnetic storms their number increases by 15%. manifest Negative influence human health may be affected by the following symptoms:

• Migraine (see)
• Headaches, joint pain
• Reaction to bright light, sudden loud sounds
• Insomnia, or vice versa, drowsiness
• Emotional instability, irritability
• Tachycardia (see)
• Blood pressure surges
• Poor general health, weakness, loss of strength
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases in older people

Scientists explain the deterioration of health in weather dependent people the fact that when the magnetic field of the earth changes, the capillary blood flow in the body slows down, that is, aggregates of blood cells are formed, the blood thickens, oxygen starvation of organs and tissues may occur, first of all, the nerve endings and the brain experience hypoxia. If magnetic storms occur in a row with a break of a week, then the body of the majority of the population is able to adapt and there is practically no reaction to the next repeated disturbances.

What should weather-sensitive people do to reduce these manifestations?

Weather-dependent people, as well as people with chronic diseases you should monitor the approach of magnetic storms and in advance exclude for this period any events or actions that could lead to stress; it is best to be at peace at this time, rest and reduce any physical and emotional overload. What should also be avoided or excluded:

• Stress, physical activity, overeating - increasing the load on the cardiovascular system
• Avoid alcohol intake, limit fatty foods, which increases cholesterol
• You should not get out of bed abruptly, this will increase headache and dizziness
• The negative impact of storms is especially strongly felt on an airplane or subway (during sudden acceleration and stopping of the train) - try not to use the subway during this period. It has been noticed that subway drivers often suffer from coronary heart disease, and heart attacks often occur among subway passengers.
• Both on the first and second days after the storm, drivers’ reactions slow down 4 times, so you should be extremely careful while driving; if you are weather-sensitive, do not drive during this period.

What can be done to mitigate this negative impact:

• People suffering from cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, etc. should take care in advance and always have the usual medicines at hand
• If there are no contraindications, then it is recommended to take 0.5 tablets of aspirin, which thins the blood and can reduce the risk of developing problems with blood vessels and heart
• Ordinary water reduces the influence of magnetic storms very well - taking a shower, even better contrast shower, even simple washing can relieve the condition
• If a person experiences anxiety, insomnia, or irritability during such periods, it is necessary to take valerian, motherwort, peony, etc.
• Tea with mint, raspberries, tea from strawberry leaves, St. John's wort, lemon balm helps well
• As for fruits, it is advisable to eat apricots, blueberries, cranberries, currants, lemon, bananas, and raisins.

As always, any point of view on almost any issue finds both supporters and opponents, this also applies to the influence of magnetic storms. Opponents of this theory argue that the gravitational disturbances that the Moon, Sun, and other planets of the solar system exert on humans do not affect the human body so much; more harm causes daily stress to a person in everyday life - a sharp ascent or descent (attractions, roller coaster, air travel), sudden braking and shaking of vehicles, loud noise, emotional overstrain, overwork, lack of proper rest, lack of sleep.

The geomagnetic field (GF) is generated by sources located in the magnetosphere and ionosphere. It protects the planet and life on it from the harmful influences. Its presence was observed by everyone who held a compass and saw how one end of the arrow points to the south and the other to the north. Thanks to the magnetosphere, great discoveries in physics have been made, and its presence is still used for marine, underwater, aviation and space navigation.

general characteristics

Our planet is a huge magnet. Its north pole is located in the “upper” part of the Earth, not far from the geographic pole, and its south pole is located near the corresponding geographic pole. From these points, magnetic field lines extending for many thousands of kilometers into space, making up the magnetosphere itself.

The magnetic and geographic poles are quite distant from each other. If you draw a clear line between the magnetic poles, you can end up with a magnetic axis with an inclination angle of 11.3° to the axis of rotation. This value is not constant, and all because the magnetic poles move relative to the surface of the planet, changing their location every year.

Nature of the geomagnetic field

The magnetic screen is generated by electric currents (moving charges), which are born in the outer liquid core, located inside the Earth at a very decent depth. It is a fluid metal and it moves. This process is called convection. The moving matter of the nucleus forms currents and, as a consequence, magnetic fields.

The magnetic shield reliably protects the Earth from its main source - the solar wind - the movement of ionized particles flowing from the Magnetosphere deflects this continuous flow, redirecting it around the Earth, due to which hard radiation does not have a detrimental effect on all living things on the blue planet.

If the Earth did not have a geomagnetic field, the solar wind would strip it of its atmosphere. According to one hypothesis, this is exactly what happened on Mars. The solar wind is far from the only threat, since the Sun also releases large amounts of matter and energy in the form of coronal ejections, accompanied by a strong flow of radioactive particles. However, even in these cases, the Earth's magnetic field protects it by deflecting these currents away from the planet.

The magnetic shield changes its poles approximately every 250,000 years. The north magnetic pole takes the place of the north one, and vice versa. Scientists do not have a clear explanation why this happens.

History of the study

Introducing people to amazing properties Earth magnetism occurred at the dawn of civilization. Already in ancient times, humanity was aware of magnetic iron ore - magnetite. However, who and when discovered that natural magnets are equally oriented in space in relation to the geographic poles of the planet is unknown. According to one version, the Chinese were familiar with this phenomenon already in 1100, but they began to use it in practice only two centuries later. In Western Europe, the magnetic compass began to be used in navigation in 1187.

Structure and characteristics

The Earth's magnetic field can be divided into:

• the main magnetic field (95%), the sources of which are located in the outer, electrically conductive core of the planet;
• anomalous magnetic field (4%) created by rocks in the upper layer of the Earth with good magnetic susceptibility (one of the most powerful is the Kursk magnetic anomaly);
• external magnetic field (also called alternating, 1%) associated with solar-terrestrial interactions.

Regular geomagnetic variations

Changes in the geomagnetic field over time under the influence of both internal and external (relative to the surface of the planet) sources are called magnetic variations. They are characterized by the deviation of the GP components from the average value at the observation site. Magnetic variations have a continuous rearrangement in time, and such changes are often periodic in nature.

Regular variations that repeat daily are changes in the magnetic field associated with solar- and lunar-diurnal changes in the MS strength. Variations reach a maximum during the day and at lunar opposition.

Irregular geomagnetic variations

These changes arise as a result of the influence of the solar wind on the Earth's magnetosphere, changes within the magnetosphere itself and its interaction with the ionized upper layer of the atmosphere.

• Twenty-seven-day variations exist as a pattern of repeated growth of magnetic disturbance every 27 days, corresponding to the period of rotation of the main celestial body relative to the earthly observer. This trend is due to the existence of long-lived active regions on our home star, observed during several of its revolutions. It manifests itself in the form of a 27-day repeatability of geomagnetic disturbance and
• Eleven-year variations are associated with the periodicity of sunspot activity of the Sun. It was revealed that during the years of the greatest accumulation of dark areas on the solar disk, magnetic activity also reaches its maximum, but the growth of geomagnetic activity lags behind the growth of solar activity on average by a year.
• Seasonal variations have two maxima and two minima, corresponding to the periods of the equinoxes and the time of the solstice.
• Secular, in contrast to the above, are of external origin, are formed as a result of the movement of matter and wave processes in the liquid electrically conductive core of the planet and are the main source of information about the electrical conductivity of the lower mantle and core, about physical processes, leading to convection of matter, as well as the mechanism of generation of the Earth’s geomagnetic field. These are the slowest variations - with periods ranging from several years to a year.

The influence of the magnetic field on the living world

Despite the fact that the magnetic screen cannot be seen, the inhabitants of the planet feel it perfectly. Eg, migratory birds build their route, focusing specifically on it. Scientists put forward several hypotheses regarding this phenomenon. One of them suggests that birds perceive it visually. In the eyes of migratory birds there are special proteins (cryptochromes) that are able to change their position under the influence of the geomagnetic field. The authors of this hypothesis are confident that cryptochromes can act as a compass. However, not only birds, but also sea ​​turtles use a magnetic screen as a GPS navigator.

Impact of a magnetic shield on a person

The influence of the geomagnetic field on a person is fundamentally different from any other, be it radiation or dangerous current, since it affects the human body completely.

Scientists believe that the geomagnetic field operates in an ultra-low frequency range, as a result of which it responds to basic physiological rhythms: respiratory, cardiac and brain. A person may not feel anything, but the body still reacts to it with functional changes in the nervous, cardiovascular systems and brain activity. Psychiatrists have been monitoring the relationship between surges in the intensity of the geomagnetic field and exacerbation of mental illnesses, often leading to suicide, for many years.

"Indexing" of geomagnetic activity

Magnetic field disturbances associated with changes in the magnetospheric-ionospheric current system are called geomagnetic activity (GA). To determine its level, two indices are used - A and K. The latter shows the value of GA. It is calculated from magnetic shield measurements taken daily at three-hour intervals, starting at 00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The highest values ​​of magnetic disturbance are compared with the values ​​of the geomagnetic field on a quiet day for a particular scientific institution, and the maximum values ​​of the observed deviations are taken into account.

Based on the data obtained, the K index is calculated. Due to the fact that it is a quasi-logarithmic value (i.e., it increases by one as the disturbance increases by approximately 2 times), it cannot be averaged in order to obtain a long-term historical picture of the state of the planet’s geomagnetic field. For this purpose there is an index A, which represents the daily average value. It is determined quite simply - each dimension of the K index is converted into an equivalent index. The K values ​​obtained throughout the day are averaged, thanks to which it is possible to obtain the A index, the value of which on ordinary days does not exceed the threshold of 100, and during periods of severe magnetic storms can exceed 200.

Since disturbances in the geomagnetic field manifest themselves differently in different parts of the planet, the values ​​of the A index from different scientific sources can vary noticeably. In order to avoid such a run-up, the A indices obtained by the observatories are reduced to the average and a global index A p appears. The same is true with the K p index, which is a fractional value in the range 0-9. Its value from 0 to 1 indicates that the geomagnetic field is normal, which means that optimal conditions for transmission on shortwave bands. Of course, provided there is a fairly intense flux of solar radiation. A geomagnetic field of 2 is characterized as a moderate magnetic disturbance, which slightly complicates the passage of decimeter waves. Values ​​from 5 to 7 indicate the presence of geomagnetic storms that create serious interference with the mentioned range, and in the case of a strong storm (8-9 points) they make the passage of short waves impossible.

The influence of magnetic storms on human health

50-70% of the world's population are exposed to the negative effects of magnetic storms. At the same time, the onset of the stress reaction in some people is noted 1-2 days before the magnetic disturbance, when flares in the sun are observed. For others, at the very peak or some time after excessive geomagnetic activity.

For meth addicts and those who suffer chronic diseases, it is necessary to monitor information about the geomagnetic field for a week in order to eliminate physical and emotional stress, as well as any actions and events that could lead to stress, in the event of possible approaching magnetic storms.

Magnetic field deficiency syndrome

The weakening of the geomagnetic field in rooms (hypogeomagnetic field) occurs due to the design features of various buildings, wall materials, and magnetized structures. When staying in a room with a weakened GP, blood circulation, oxygen supply and nutrients to tissues and organs. Weakening of the magnetic shield also affects the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, skeletal and muscular systems.

The Japanese doctor Nakagawa “called” this phenomenon “human magnetic field deficiency syndrome.” In terms of its importance, this concept may well compete with the deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

The main symptoms indicating the presence of this syndrome are:

• increased fatigue;
• decreased performance;
• insomnia;
• headache and joint pain;
• hypo- and hypertension;
• disruptions in the digestive system;
• disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

The magnetic storm informer shows the average predicted values ​​of the global geomagnetic index ( Cr-index) Earth, based on geophysical data from twelve observatories around the world.
Cr-index – characterizes the geomagnetic field on a global scale.
At different parts of the earth's surface, Cr-index differs within 1-2 units. The entire Cr-index range is from 1 to 9 units. On different continents, the index may differ by one or two units (+/-), with the entire range from zero to nine.
The informer predicts magnetic storms for 3 days, eight values ​​per day, for every 3 hours of the day.

Green color is a safe level of geomagnetic activity.
Red color – magnetic storm (Cr-index > 5).
The higher the red vertical line, the stronger the magnetic storm.

The level at which noticeable effects on the health of weather-sensitive people are likely (Cr-index > 6) is marked with a horizontal red line.

The following Cr-index coefficients are accepted:
The following magnetic field indices are relatively favorable for health: Cr = 0-1 – geomagnetic situation is calm; Cr = 1-2 – geomagnetic conditions from calm to slightly disturbed; Cr = 3-4 – from slightly disturbed to disturbed. The following magnetic field indices are unfavorable for health: Cr = 5-6 – magnetic storm; Cr = 7-8 – large magnetic storm; Cr = 9 – maximum possible value
Based on materials from www.meteofox.ru

INFLUENCE OF COSMOPHYSICAL FACTORS ON THE BIOSPHERE.

An analysis of facts confirming the influence of the Sun, as well as electromagnetic fields of natural and artificial origin on living organisms, was carried out. Assumptions have been made about the sources and mechanism of human reaction to magnetic storms, the nature of “bioeffective frequency windows”, sensitivity to electromagnetic fields of various genesis. The socio-historical aspect of the influence of space weather on people is discussed.

The full text of the article is located at this address

NATURE ALSO HAS SPACE WEATHER

Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences A. PETRUKOVICH, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences L. ZELENY
Space Research Institute.

In the 20th century, earthly civilization imperceptibly crossed a very important milestone in its development. The technosphere - the area of ​​human activity - has expanded far beyond its borders natural environment habitats - biosphere. This expansion is both spatial - due to the exploration of outer space, and qualitative in nature - due to the active use of new types of energy and electromagnetic waves. But still, for aliens looking at us from a distant star, the Earth remains just a grain of sand in the ocean of plasma filling solar system both the entire Universe and our stage of development can be compared more with the first steps of a child than with the achievement of maturity. New world, revealed to humanity, is no less complex and, as, indeed, on Earth, is not always friendly. While mastering it, there were losses and mistakes, but we are gradually learning to recognize new dangers and overcome them. And there are many of these dangers. This and background radiation V upper layers atmosphere, and loss of communication with satellites, aircraft and ground stations, and even catastrophic accidents on communication and power lines that occur during powerful magnetic storms.

The sun is our everything
The sun is truly the center of our world. For billions of years it holds the planets near itself and heats them. The Earth is acutely aware of changes in solar activity, which currently manifest themselves mainly in the form of 11-year cycles. During bursts of activity that become more frequent at the maxima of the cycle, intense flows of X-ray radiation and energetic charged particles - solar cosmic rays - are born in the solar corona, and huge masses of plasma and magnetic field (magnetic clouds) are ejected into interplanetary space. Although the magnetosphere and atmosphere of the Earth quite reliably protect all living things from the direct effects of solar particles and radiation, many human creations, for example, radio electronics, aviation and space technology, communication and power lines, pipelines, turn out to be very sensitive to electromagnetic and corpuscular influences coming from near-Earth space.
Let us now get acquainted with the most practically important manifestations of solar and geomagnetic activity, often called “space weather”.

Dangerous! Radiation!
Perhaps one of the most striking manifestations of the hostility of outer space towards man and his creations, besides, of course, an almost complete vacuum by earthly standards, is radiation - electrons, protons and heavier nuclei, accelerated to enormous speeds and capable of destroying organic and inorganic molecules. The harm that radiation causes to living beings is well known, but a sufficiently large dose of radiation (that is, the amount of energy absorbed by a substance and used for its physical and chemical destruction) can also damage radio-electronic systems. Electronics also suffer from “single failures,” when particularly high-energy particles, penetrating deep inside an electronic microcircuit, change the electrical state of its elements, knocking out memory cells and causing false positives. The more complex and modern the chip, the smaller the size of each element and the greater the likelihood of failures, which can lead to its incorrect operation and even to the processor stopping. This situation is similar in its consequences to a computer suddenly freezing in the middle of typing, with the only difference being that satellite equipment, generally speaking, is designed to operate automatically. To correct the error, you have to wait for the next communication session with the Earth, provided that the satellite is able to communicate.

First traces of radiation cosmic origin on Earth were discovered by the Austrian Victor Hess back in 1912. Later, in 1936, for this discovery he received Nobel Prize. The atmosphere effectively protects us from cosmic radiation: very few so-called galactic cosmic rays with energies above several gigaelectronvolts generated outside the Solar System reach the Earth's surface. Therefore, the study of energetic particles outside the Earth’s atmosphere immediately became one of the main scientific tasks space age. The first experiment to measure their energy was carried out by a group of Soviet researcher Sergei Vernov in 1957. The reality exceeded all expectations - the instruments went off scale. A year later, the leader of a similar American experiment, James Van Allen, realized that this was not a malfunction of the device, but real, powerful flows of charged particles that were not related to galactic rays. The energy of these particles is not high enough for them to reach the surface of the Earth, but in space this “disadvantage” is more than compensated by their quantity. The main source of radiation in the vicinity of the Earth turned out to be high-energy charged particles “living” in the Earth’s inner magnetosphere, in the so-called radiation belts.

It is known that the almost dipole magnetic field of the Earth's inner magnetosphere creates special zones"magnetic bottles" in which charged particles can be "captured" on long time, rotating around the lines of force. In this case, the particles are periodically reflected from the near-Earth ends of the field line (where the magnetic field increases) and slowly drift around the Earth in a circle. In the most powerful inner radiation belt, protons with energies up to hundreds of megaelectronvolts are well contained. The radiation doses that can be received during its flight are so high that only research satellites risk being kept in it for a long time. Manned spacecraft are hidden in lower orbits, and most communications satellites and navigation spacecraft are in orbits above this belt. The inner belt comes closest to the Earth at the points of reflection. Due to the presence of magnetic anomalies (deviations of the geomagnetic field from an ideal dipole) in those places where the field is weakened (above the so-called Brazilian anomaly), particles reach heights of 200-300 kilometers, and in those where it is strengthened (above the East Siberian anomaly ), - 600 kilometers. Above the equator, the belt is 1,500 kilometers from the Earth. The inner belt itself is quite stable, but during magnetic storms, when the geomagnetic field weakens, its conventional boundary descends even closer to the Earth. Therefore, the position of the belt and the degree of solar and geomagnetic activity are necessarily taken into account when planning flights of cosmonauts and astronauts working in orbits at an altitude of 300-400 kilometers.

Energetic electrons are most efficiently retained in the outer radiation belt. The “population” of this belt is very unstable and increases many times during magnetic storms due to the injection of plasma from the outer magnetosphere. Unfortunately, it is along the outer periphery of this belt that the geostationary orbit passes, which is indispensable for placing communication satellites: the satellite on it motionlessly “hangs” above one point on the globe (its altitude is about 42 thousand kilometers). Since the radiation dose created by electrons is not so large, the problem of electrifying satellites comes to the fore. The fact is that any object immersed in plasma must be in electrical equilibrium with it. Therefore, it absorbs a certain number of electrons, acquiring a negative charge and a corresponding “floating” potential, approximately equal to the temperature of the electrons, expressed in electron volts. Clouds of hot (up to hundreds of kiloelectron volts) electrons that appear during magnetic storms give the satellites an additional and unevenly distributed, due to the difference in the electrical characteristics of surface elements, negative charge. Potential differences between adjacent satellite parts can reach tens of kilovolts, provoking spontaneous electrical discharges that damage electrical equipment. The most famous consequence of this phenomenon was the breakdown of the American TELSTAR satellite during one of the magnetic storms in 1997, which left a significant part of the United States without pager communications. Since geostationary satellites are usually designed to last 10-15 years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, research into electrification of surfaces in outer space and methods to combat it are usually a trade secret.

Another important and most unstable source of cosmic radiation is solar cosmic rays. Protons and alpha particles, accelerated to tens and hundreds of megaelectronvolts, fill the Solar system only by a short time after a solar flare, but the intensity of the particles makes them a major source of radiation hazard in the outer magnetosphere, where the geomagnetic field is still too weak to protect satellites. Solar particles, against the background of other, more stable sources of radiation, are also “responsible” for short-term deterioration of the radiation situation in the inner magnetosphere, including at altitudes used for manned flights.

Energetic particles penetrate deepest into the magnetosphere in the subpolar regions, since particles here can freely move most of the way along lines of force almost perpendicular to the Earth's surface. Near-equatorial regions are more protected: there the geomagnetic field, almost parallel to the earth’s surface, changes the trajectory of particles to a spiral one and takes them to the side. Therefore, flight routes passing at high latitudes are much more dangerous from the point of view of radiation damage than those at low latitudes. This threat applies not only to spacecraft, but also to aviation. At altitudes of 9-11 kilometers, where most aviation routes pass, the overall background of cosmic radiation is already so high that the annual dose received by crews, equipment and frequent fliers must be controlled according to the rules established for radiation dangerous species activities. Supersonic passenger aircraft Concorde flying to even higher altitudes have radiation counters on board and are required to fly south of the shortest northern route between Europe and America if the current radiation level exceeds a safe value. However, after the most powerful solar flares, the dose received even during one flight on a conventional plane can be greater than the dose of one hundred fluorographic examinations, which makes it necessary to seriously consider the issue of completely stopping flights at such times. Fortunately, bursts of solar activity similar level are recorded less frequently than once per solar cycle - 11 years.

Excited ionosphere
On the lower floor of the electrical solar-terrestrial circuit is the ionosphere - the densest plasma shell of the Earth, literally like a sponge absorbing both solar radiation and the precipitation of energetic particles from the magnetosphere. After solar flares, the ionosphere, absorbing solar X-rays, heats up and inflates, so that the density of plasma and neutral gas at an altitude of several hundred kilometers increases, creating significant additional aerodynamic resistance to the movement of satellites and manned spacecraft. Neglecting this effect can lead to “unexpected” braking of the satellite and loss of its flight altitude. Perhaps the most notorious case of such an error was the fall of the American Skylab station, which was “missed” after the largest solar flare that occurred in 1972. Fortunately, during the descent of the Mir station from orbit, the Sun was calm, which made the work of Russian ballisticians easier.

However, perhaps the most important effect for most inhabitants of the Earth is the influence of the ionosphere on the state of the radio broadcast. Plasma most effectively absorbs radio waves only near a certain resonant frequency, which depends on the density of charged particles and is equal to approximately 5-10 megahertz for the ionosphere. Radio waves of a lower frequency are reflected from the boundaries of the ionosphere, and waves of a higher frequency pass through it, and the degree of distortion of the radio signal depends on the proximity of the wave frequency to the resonant one. The quiet ionosphere has a stable layered structure, allowing, due to multiple reflections, to receive a short-wave radio signal (with a frequency below the resonant one) throughout the globe. Radio waves with frequencies above 10 megahertz travel freely through the ionosphere into outer space. Therefore, VHF and FM radio stations can only be heard in the vicinity of the transmitter, and at frequencies of hundreds and thousands of megahertz they communicate with spacecraft.

During solar flares and magnetic storms, the number of charged particles in the ionosphere increases, and so unevenly that plasma clots and “extra” layers are created. This results in unpredictable reflection, absorption, distortion and refraction of radio waves. In addition, the unstable magnetosphere and ionosphere themselves generate radio waves, filling a wide range of frequencies with noise. In practice, the magnitude of the natural radio background becomes comparable to the level of the artificial signal, creating significant difficulties in the operation of ground and space communication and navigation systems. Radio communication even between neighboring points may become impossible, but in return you can accidentally hear some African radio station, and see false targets on the locator screen (which are often mistaken for “flying saucers”). In the subpolar regions and auroral oval zones, the ionosphere is associated with the most dynamic regions of the magnetosphere and is therefore most sensitive to disturbances coming from the Sun. Magnetic storms in high latitudes can almost completely block radio broadcasts for several days. At the same time, naturally, many other areas of activity, such as air travel, are also frozen. That is why all services that actively use radio communications, back in the middle of the 20th century, became one of the first real consumers of space weather information.

Current jets in space and on Earth
Fans of books about polar travelers have heard not only about interruptions in radio communications, but also about the “crazy needle” effect: during magnetic storms, the sensitive compass needle begins to spin like mad, unsuccessfully trying to keep track of all changes in the direction of the geomagnetic field. Field variations are created by jets of ionospheric currents with a force of millions of amperes - electrojets, which arise in polar and auroral latitudes with changes in the magnetospheric current circuit. In turn, magnetic variations, according to the well-known law of electromagnetic induction, generate secondary electric currents in the conducting layers of the Earth's lithosphere, in salt water and in nearby artificial conductors. The induced potential difference is small and amounts to approximately a few volts per kilometer (the maximum value was recorded in 1940 in Norway and was about 50 V/km), but in long conductors with low resistance - communication and power lines, pipelines, rails railways- the total strength of induced currents can reach tens and hundreds of amperes.

Low-voltage overhead communication lines are least protected from such influence. Indeed, significant interference that occurred during magnetic storms was already noted on the very first telegraph lines built in Europe in the first half of the 19th century. Reports of these disturbances can probably be considered the first historical evidence of our dependence on space weather. The currently widespread fiber-optic communication lines are insensitive to such influence, but they will not appear in the Russian outback for a long time. Geomagnetic activity should also cause significant problems for railway automation, especially in the polar regions. And in oil pipelines, often stretching for many thousands of kilometers, induced currents can significantly accelerate the process of metal corrosion.

In power lines operating on alternating current with a frequency of 50-60 Hz, induced currents varying with a frequency of less than 1 Hz practically make only a small constant addition to the main signal and should have little effect on the total power. However, after an accident that occurred during the severe magnetic storm of 1989 in the Canadian energy network and left half of Canada without electricity for several hours, this point of view had to be reconsidered. The cause of the accident turned out to be transformers. Careful research has shown that even a small addition of direct current can destroy a transformer designed to convert alternating current. The fact is that the constant component of the current introduces the transformer into a non-optimal operating mode with excessive magnetic saturation of the core. This leads to excessive energy absorption, overheating of the windings and ultimately to a breakdown of the entire system. A subsequent analysis of the performance of all power plants in North America also revealed a statistical relationship between the number of failures in high-risk areas and the level of geomagnetic activity.

Space and man
All of the above-described manifestations of space weather can be conditionally characterized as technical, and the physical basis of their influence is generally known - this is the direct impact of flows of charged particles and electromagnetic variations. However, it is impossible not to mention other aspects of solar-terrestrial connections, the physical essence of which is not entirely clear, namely the influence of solar variability on climate and the biosphere.

Changes in the total flux of solar radiation, even during strong flares, amount to less than one thousandth of the solar constant, that is, it would seem that they are too small to directly change the thermal balance of the Earth's atmosphere. Nevertheless, there is a number of indirect evidence given in the books of A. L. Chizhevsky and other researchers, indicating the reality solar influence on climate and weather. For example, a pronounced cyclicity of various weather variations with periods close to 11- and 22-year periods of solar activity was noted. This periodicity is also reflected in living nature objects - it is noticeable in the change in the thickness of tree rings.

Currently, forecasts of the influence of geomagnetic activity on people’s health have become widespread (maybe even too widespread). The opinion about the dependence of people’s well-being on magnetic storms is already firmly established in the public consciousness and is even confirmed by some statistical research: For example, the number of people hospitalized by ambulance and the number of exacerbations of cardiovascular diseases clearly increases after a magnetic storm. However, from the point of view of academic science, not enough evidence has yet been collected. Besides, in human body there is no organ or cell type that claims to be a sufficiently sensitive receiver of geomagnetic variations. As an alternative mechanism for the impact of magnetic storms on a living organism, infrasonic vibrations are often considered - sound waves with frequencies of less than one hertz, close to the natural frequency of many internal organs. Infrasound, possibly emitted by the active ionosphere, can have a resonant effect on the human cardiovascular system. It only remains to note that the issues of the relationship between space weather and the biosphere are still waiting for their attentive researcher and to date remain, probably, the most intriguing part of the science of solar-terrestrial connections.

In general, the influence of space weather on our lives can probably be considered significant, but not catastrophic. The Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere protect us well from cosmic threats. In this sense, it would be interesting to analyze the history of solar activity, trying to understand what may await us in the future. Firstly, there is currently a trend towards an increase in the influence of solar activity, associated with the weakening of our shield - the Earth's magnetic field - by more than 10 percent over the past half century and a simultaneous doubling of the solar magnetic flux, which serves as the main intermediary in the transmission of solar activity.

Secondly, an analysis of solar activity for the entire period of observations of sunspots (since the beginning of the 17th century) shows that the solar cycle, on average equal to 11 years, did not always exist. In the second half of the 17th century, during the so-called Maunder minimum, virtually no sunspots were observed for several decades, which indirectly indicates a minimum of geomagnetic activity. However, this period can hardly be called ideal for life: it coincided with the so-called Little Ice Age - years of abnormally cold weather in Europe. Whether this is a coincidence or not, modern science unknown for certain.

In earlier history, there were also periods of abnormally high solar activity. Thus, in some years of the first millennium AD, auroras were constantly observed in southern Europe, indicating frequent magnetic storms, and the Sun looked dim, possibly due to the presence on its surface of a huge sunspot or coronal hole - another object that causes increased geomagnetic activity. If such a period of continuous solar activity begins today, communications and transport, and with them everything world economy would find themselves in a very difficult situation.

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Space weather is gradually taking its rightful place in our consciousness. As with ordinary weather, we want to know what awaits us both in the distant future and in the coming days. To study the Sun, magnetosphere and ionosphere of the Earth, a network of solar observatories and geophysical stations has been deployed, and a whole flotilla of research satellites hovers in near-Earth space. Based on the observations they provide, scientists warn us about solar flares and magnetic storms.

Literature Kippenhan R. 100 Billion Suns: The Birth, Life and Death of Stars. - M., 1990. Kulikov K. A., Sidorenko N. S. Planet Earth. - M., 1972. Miroshnichenko L.I. The sun and cosmic rays. - M., 1970. Parker E. N. Solar wind // Astronomy of the invisible. - M., 1967.
Based on materials from the magazine "Science and Life"