Why in the news?
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics IIA solved a long standing mystery of solar radio bursts, a breakthrough that could improve space weather forecasting and protect satellites, communication and navigation systems.
What Are Type II Solar Radio Bursts?
• Generated by Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections CME
• Produced by Shock waves in Sun’s Corona
• Travel at Nearly 1000 km per second
• Important for Space Weather Forecasting
What Was the Long Standing Mystery?
Scientists observed two radio emissions
• Fundamental Emission
• Harmonic Emission
Earlier Expectation: Fundamental emission should be stronger
But Observations Showed
• Sometimes Harmonic emission stronger
• This puzzled scientists for decades
What Did Indian Scientists Discover?
Researchers found
• Strength depends on Location of Solar Activity
• Higher Solar Longitudes beyond 75 degree. Harmonic emission stronger
• Near centre of solar disk Fundamental emission stronger
Why Does This Happen?
Scientists identified two main reasons
• Refraction in Solar Corona
• Viewing Angle from Earth
How Was the Study Conducted?
• Analysed 58 Solar Events
• Used Global CALLISTO Network
• Used Gauribidanur Radio Observatory Karnataka
• Published in Solar Physics Journal
What Is CALLISTO Network?
• Global solar radio monitoring network
• Tracks Solar radio bursts
• Used for Space weather prediction
| [2022] If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth? 1 GPS and navigation systems could fail. 2 Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions. 3 Power grids could be damaged. 4 Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth. 5 Forest fires could take place over much of the planet. 6 Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed. 7 Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only (b) 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only (c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 |
