Talk:Geomagnetic storm

Give it a twist

That schematic needs some axial tilt. That's one reason I didn't use it. And it is polite to include a source URL in the Image page...and practical in case someone eventually makes a robot check for updated images. (SEWilco 08:05, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC))

Some shematics have an axial tilt, but one might ask whether or not this is really important for the level of discussion included here. Furthermore, although the axis of the dipole is, in fact, tilted with respect to the Earth's rotational axis, its depiction in a diagram assumes a certain visual perspective, one where the tilt is actually visible in a two-dimensional plane.

The schematic was taken for the USGS Geomagnetism Program website at http://geomag.usgs.gov and was produced originally by Mitazeijaa.love

GPS scintillation

This vanished from the page overnight. If it was intentional, could there be some discussion here first please? I replaced the text, but did not revert the page as Shaddack had already made a large number of improvements to the page.

GPS signals are affected when solar activity causes sudden variations in the density of the ionosphere, causing the GPS signals to scintillate. The scintillation of satellite signals during ionospheric disturbances is studied at HAARP during ionospheric modification experiments. It has also been studied at the National Science Foundation equatorial ionospheric observation facility in Jicamarca, Peru.

• John Elder 3 July 2005 18:41 (UTC)

This has since been re-added. -- Beland (talk) 01:31, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

Compliments

Well writen article! Info D 15:11, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

Geomagnetic Storm of 2006

We are just beginning to see effects from the solar storm caused by sunspot 930 (see http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236520,00.html), and likely this will even be strong enough to cause the northern lights to be visible in the Northern Continental United States. Perhaps this storm is worth mentioning in addition to the storm of 1989. Of course, it's just a little early to add it, but anyone reading this after it occurrs, see if it is newsworthy enough to be mentioned. I would add it myself, but I will more than likely forget :D Bourgeoisdude 20:00, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

If it is newsworthy then that news will remind plenty of people about this article. Sunspot 930 has been in the news enough already that I'm sure several people reading this have been aware of 930 for days. If something significant happens the article will be udpated. Unless it knocks out the servers, in which case the city herald will tell us the news. (SEWilco 06:00, 15 December 2006 (UTC))

Merge

I've proposed a merge with Magnetospheric convection and magnetic storms. They appear to be covering the same topic. -- Whpq 18:36, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

Is there a significant difference between these? i.e: Can they occur seperately? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nex Iuguolo (talk • contribs) 05:18, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

The merge has since been implemented. -- Beland (talk) 01:31, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

Magnetic pigeons ?

"Pigeons and other migratory animals, such as dolphins and whales, have internal biological compasses composed of the mineral magnetite wrapped in bundles of nerve cells." Can anyone provide a good source for this statement? It sounds far-fetched to me, and not really borne out by the info on the Homing pigeon article. --Kiwi137 15:52, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Here it is : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoreception —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.197.220.188 (talk) 15:57, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

GIC

I moved this from Geomagnetically induced currents, if any of it is not yet included in this article, it probably should:

Here we discuss the ground effects of space weather, but we note that space weather also impacts other technologies, for example, those associated with airlines, Earth-orbiting satellites, GPS, radio communication systems, and unmanned space missions. Astronaut health during space weather events, for example during extended stays on the International Space Station, and on any future Moon and Mars missions, continues to be a prime consideration for national and international space agencies.

Cheers! Tazmaniacs —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tazmaniacs (talk • contribs) 01:40, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

Theory

I found this page lacks a proper explanation of the evolution of a magnetic storm. I appreciate that it might be contested theory, but, even in the absence of consensus, can anyone provide an explanation? Warrickball (talk) 22:23, 3 May 2008 (UTC)

Interesting

FTA: "Computers are not usually viewed as scientific instruments..." which I thought was hilarious when taken out of context. Of course, in context it's referring to sensor-type "instruments" such as found on a satellite. Could someone rewrite this in a less confusing way? 4.242.147.121 (talk) 19:28, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Fixed. -- Beland (talk) 01:29, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

Multi-year blackout due to geomagnetic storm?

This seems implausible--wouldn't a storm, even a large one, just trip protection devices and take the grid down for a while until it could be black started? The only source is a review of a TV movie, which seems too many levels removed from real fact to be the only support for this statement. Dbrunner (talk) 02:04, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

Agreed, these are fictional scenarios which claim to be based in science, not actual scientific predictions. I removed the claim. -- Beland (talk) 01:17, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

I'm not sure that "fictional" is the best way to describe these scnearios. "Speculative," definitely. "Hypothetical," definitely. "Alarmist," possibly. Note that the NASA-funded National Academy of Sciences report on risks posed by space weather contains some pretty frightening language: potential for large-scale blackouts...potential for permanent damage that could lead to extraordinarily long restoration times....potential for long-duration catastrophic impacts to the power grid and its users....[T]he effects on these interdependent infrastructures could persist for multiple years.... So it's not only the writers of made-for-TV movies who are talking about the potential for multi-year disruptions of infrastructure. 65.213.77.129 (talk) 15:32, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

move

Geomagnetic storms always occur in suns ? As such, the solar should be added in the header to clearify this