NASA's sensational James Webb Telescope, which aims to look back to the early days of the universe, is on course. But it is also exposed to so-called space weather. Because giant currents of plasma and magnetic fields are raging through our planetary system. Slow and fast solar winds can collide and cause traffic jams like on a motorway. Additionally, magnetic clouds are ejected from the uppermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, the corona. “We can even experience the effects on Earth”, explains Manuela Temmer. “For example in the form of northern lights, changes in satellite orbits, GPS failures along with disrupted air traffic and cell phone reception.”
Forecast
Tuesday, 11 January 2022, Universität, Forschen
About the scientist
If we ever get a space weather report after the news on TV, that is where Manuela Temmer will come in. The astrophysicist observes processes which originate from the Sun and influence the situation in space.
>> Learn more on her sedcard