India's Aditya-L1 Mission Reveals Crucial Solar Findings
India's Aditya-L1 mission unveils crucial solar findings. Solar storms and CMEs pose risks to Earth's infrastructure and satellites. Early detection and monitoring of solar activities are vital for mitigating potential damage.
The insights gained have the potential to safeguard power grids and communication satellites from the impact of solar activities that could jeopardise infrastructure on Earth and in space.
On 16 July, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (Velc), the most crucial of the seven scientific instruments aboard Aditya-L1, captured data that enabled scientists to pinpoint the exact commencement time of a coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs, colossal fireballs erupting from the Sun's outermost corona layer, are a primary focus of India's maiden solar mission.
Professor R Ramesh from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the mind behind Velc, explained the magnitude of a CME, stating that it could weigh up to a trillion kilogrammes and travel at speeds of up to 3,000km per second. These phenomena, if directed towards Earth, could cover the vast Earth-Sun distance of 150 million km in just 15 hours.
The CME captured by Velc on 16 July initiated at 13:08 GMT, originating from Earth's side. However, within half an hour, it deviated from its path, veering behind the Sun and avoiding any impact on Earth's weather. Despite this, solar storms, flares, and CMEs routinely affect Earth's weather and space conditions, posing risks to the numerous satellites orbiting the planet.
While these solar events may not directly endanger human life, they can disrupt Earth's magnetic field, leading to phenomena like stunning auroras near the poles. However, in space, the repercussions are more severe, with CMEs capable of causing malfunctions in satellite electronics, power grid failures, and disturbances to weather and communication satellites.
The potential chaos that could ensue from such disruptions is highlighted by Prof Ramesh, who emphasises the critical role of communication satellites in modern life and the catastrophic consequences of their malfunction due to CMEs. He recalls the Carrington Event of 1859, a powerful solar storm that caused global telegraph line failures, underscoring the vulnerability of our technology to solar disturbances.
In 2012, a significant solar storm narrowly missed Earth, reinforcing the importance of early detection and monitoring of solar activities. The ability to predict and track solar storms and CMEs in real-time could enable proactive measures such as shutting down power grids and satellite systems to mitigate potential damage.
India's Aditya-L1 mission, named after the Hindu god of the Sun, has now joined the ranks of space agencies like NASA, ESA, Japan, and China in observing the Sun and studying solar phenomena. With its unique vantage point in space, Aditya-L1 offers continuous monitoring of the Sun, providing valuable insights into solar activities and enhancing our understanding of these celestial events.
Prof Ramesh highlights the advantage of India's coronagraph in mimicking the role of the Moon, allowing Aditya-L1 an uninterrupted view of the solar corona throughout the year. This capability, coupled with ground-based observatories across India, promises a comprehensive understanding of the Sun's behaviour and better preparedness for potential solar threats.
India's Aditya-L1 mission unveils crucial solar findings
Solar storms and CMEs pose risks to Earth's infrastructure and satellites
Early detection and monitoring of solar activities are vital for mitigating potential damage\
Source: BBC