This lesson presents an overview of space weather processes, their impacts on Earth and human activities, and the technologies used for forecasting space weather events. The lesson goal is to provide NWS forecasters a basic understanding of space weather and the operations of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). It will be of interest to a general audience as well.
Identify the correct sequence of phases in the life cycle of a star.
State three types of space weather events. Describe their characteristics
and effects.
Describe the general pattern of sunspot migration during the 11-year
cycle.
State the characteristics of plasma.
List three types of solar energy release and describe their
characteristics.
Describe and explain the shape of Earth's magnetosphere, and describe its role in space weather events.
State the space environment monitors used in GOES and POES satellites.
space weather, sun, solar wind, plasma, sunspots, aurora, solar flares, coronal mass ejection, solar prominence eruptions, space weather prediction center, solar cycle, sunspot cycle, magnetosphere
August 2016: HTML and media assets in this lesson have been updated for current browsers and mobile devices.
1/10/2012: Changes in this 2nd edition of the lesson include: 1) updating the name of the Space Weather Prediction Center from its former name, the Space Environment Center and giving a brief description of SWPC duties, 2) adding content highlighting new satellites and their role in forecasting space weather, and 3) new material on advancements in space weather prediction models.
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