As a ham radio operator, I'm inordinately interested in what the sun is doing. And right now it's waking up after a long sleep. It's entering the active period of its 11-year cycle, with the return of sun spots and a lot of other solar activity. During this time it pays to have one eye on the sun (figuratively speaking!) because this activity can knock out a lot of radio, tv, and gps signals. Worst case scenarios include the Earth suffering a direct hit by a solar flare or a Carrington EMP event (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_Event).
My favorite eye on the sun is the app from Space Weather Live
https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en.html
With notifications turned on, it lets me know if there's any concerning solar activity. For you in the more extreme northern and southern latitudes, it'll let you know when the Northern/Southern Lights will be active, too!
-Blast
Might just be me, but seems like the solar cycle coincides with our flood/drought cycle out West. We're in one of the worst droughts we've had in a few decades.
Tank you for the link :)
Is there any tutorials for space weather? I have the app but not sure how to understand the readings.
Quote from: Chipmunk on June 22, 2021, 12:13:01 PM
Is there any tutorials for space weather? I have the app but not sure how to understand the readings.
This page does a good job of explaining the different terms...though it is a bit technical.
https://www.spaceacademy.net.au/env/spwx/spwxtute.htm
-Blast
Quote from: Chipmunk on June 22, 2021, 12:13:01 PM
Is there any tutorials for space weather? I have the app but not sure how to understand the readings.
I'm a fan (sort of) of the Suspicious 0bservers website (https://www.youtube.com/user/Suspicious0bservers/feed). The solar stuff comes first, which he pulls from Space Weather.com - but Ben provides a bit an explanation and data set to go with.
Some are put off by his EOTW stuff, but like the old Ice Age Farmer, I pick the data I'm interested in viewing and smile about the rest...
The bonus are the links to peer reviewed papers of interest to me. Monographs may not be light reading in the Am with your coffee, but can be very intresting.
I go thru NOAA to NWS then to Space Weather Center (SWC). I can't remember if they send email or text alerts. The Aussies do, & I've been getting quite a few lately.