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Addressing space weather questions often times requires taking multiple steps and the use of multiple resources. It also requires reflecting… remember to take time to both reflect on the caller’s concerns as well as your own options; however don’t let the caller sit silently on the phone. Keep your caller engaged by asking clarifying questions.
Now it’s time to practice. Pull up spaceweather.gov and consider each of the following questions below. Pick up the phone and try answering the questions out loud using your tools! (Remember you only get out of a course as much as you put into it – so be a good sport.) Click the tabs to see some simple (not the full dialogue) responses when you are ready.
A G2 alert indicates that a moderate geomagnetic storm is underway. The NOAA Space Weather scales tell us that power systems at high latitudes may experience some alarms and transformer damage could result from extended duration. The scale also tells us aurora has been seen as low as New York and Idaho.
It is possible for your GPS to be affected by Space Weather, and we do offer a forecast tool online to help you determine the likelihood of that happening. Would you like to know more about that tool?
Yes, space weather will not affect computer hardware on Earth.
We are providing forecasts based on current science and technologies; and researching to improve those technologies. Additionally, many government agencies are evaluating the potential effects of space weather on critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines, electrical lines, and satellites. Is there any specific area I can explain for you?
To be honest, we don’t know. The potential impact of an extreme space weather event is not understood; although we are working to find out… Efforts are underway to assess, how big can a space weather storm be, and what would the effects of such a storm be on today’s technology.
It is very unlikely that your cellphone (non satellite) will be affected by space weather. In only a couple of documented cases, a cellphone, cell tower, and setting sun have lined up to create a brief disturbance in the cell frequency bandwidth.
We do not know. The day to day variability of terrestrial weather seems to be independent of current space weather conditions, however, space weather variability as it relates to climate is a subject of intense scientific investigation.
I’d advise you to take the same preparations that you would take for almost any natural disaster. Have a first aid kit on hand, some bottled waters, that sort of thing…. Although, most solar storms will have very little effect on the general public.
Congratulations. You have reached the end of Lesson 4.
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