# Space Weather

> Space weather studies the dynamic conditions in near-Earth space driven by solar activity, with direct consequences for critical infrastructure. Coronal mass ejections launch billions of tonnes of magnetized plasma toward Earth at millions of kilometers per hour; when oriented southward they drive geomagnetic storms that induce currents in long conductors, potentially damaging high-voltage power transformers. The 1989 Quebec blackout and the Carrington Event of 1859 illustrate the societal impact of extreme space weather. Energetic particle radiation from solar flares and galactic cosmic rays poses health risks for astronauts and polar aviation passengers. Real-time magnetohydrodynamic simulation enables 24-hour geomagnetic storm forecasts, giving grid operators time to implement protective switching. Space weather is now recognized as a top-tier national security and economic risk.

*Source: [https://selltoscientists.com/fields/space-weather/](https://selltoscientists.com/fields/space-weather/)*

**Researcher count:** 4,600
**Average funding:** $650K

## Subfields

- Geomagnetic Storms
- Ionospheric Physics
- Magnetospheric Dynamics
- Radiation Belt Science
- Solar Energetic Particles

## Key technologies

- GOES Satellite Network
- Van Allen Probes
- Incoherent Scatter Radars
- DSCOVR Solar Wind Monitor
- MHD Simulation Codes

## Top institutions

- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
- British Antarctic Survey
- GFZ Potsdam
- Delft University of Technology
- University of Colorado LASP

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