When the Sun strikes: How space weather impacts our high-tech world

The U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) invites you to the Explorer Series lecture, “When the Sun strikes: How space weather impacts our high-tech world” on Wednesday, July 16 from 7:00-8:30 pm (MT). 

This event will be a live hybrid webcast with options to attend in person at the NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory or virtually. Please register and tell us if you will be attending in person or online. This will allow you to receive email reminders. If you’re attending virtually, an email will have the link to the webcast and details on how to participate.

Event Summary

Imagine if a storm in space could disrupt your GPS, delay your flight, or even knock out power. These aren’t scenes from a science fiction movie, they’re real effects of space weather. Caused by activity from the Sun, like solar flares and other eruptions, space weather can send bursts of energy and particles toward Earth. While we don’t feel these directly, they can seriously affect systems we rely on every day.

In this Explorer Series lecture, Edward Oughton and Michael Wiltberger will dive into what space weather is, how it forms, and why it matters. They’ll explain how researchers at NSF NCAR are working to better understand these solar storms, so we can protect the technology and infrastructure that modern society depends on.

Free public event recommended for ages 12+

For more information and to watch archived lectures, visit the NSF NCAR Explorer Series webpage.

We look forward to seeing you there!