Coronal Mass Ejections - Revision history

RichardWSmith: Gave common name in introduction.

2024-09-20T17:12:28Z

Gave common name in introduction.

RichardWSmith: /* A hazard to settlers? */ You need a storm shelter during a solar storm.

2024-09-16T13:40:20Z

A hazard to settlers?: You need a storm shelter during a solar storm.

RichardWSmith: Added a paragraph that says Martians will likely accept higher radiation doses than what is found on Earth.

2024-09-15T13:35:05Z

Added a paragraph that says Martians will likely accept higher radiation doses than what is found on Earth.

RichardWSmith: Added two links, and mentioned powerful CME's are rare.

2024-09-15T10:31:33Z

Added two links, and mentioned powerful CME's are rare.

RichardWSmith: Earth can warn Mars, except when in opposition.

2024-07-02T08:30:16Z

Earth can warn Mars, except when in opposition.

RichardWSmith: Discussed a storm shelter for CME.

2024-07-02T08:28:12Z

Discussed a storm shelter for CME.

RichardWSmith: /* A contingency for Mars */ spelling

2022-05-27T15:06:17Z

A contingency for Mars: spelling

RichardWSmith: /* A contingency for Mars */ If explorers are alert they should avoid making distant trips during flares.

2022-05-27T15:05:36Z

A contingency for Mars: If explorers are alert they should avoid making distant trips during flares.

RichardWSmith: /* Detecting damaging CME ions */

2022-05-27T15:02:07Z

Detecting damaging CME ions

RichardWSmith: /* Detecting damaging CME ions */ Pointed out, that solar observatories watch for CME.

2022-05-27T15:01:23Z

Detecting damaging CME ions: Pointed out, that solar observatories watch for CME.

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 [[Image:Cme.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (LASCO) observation of a CME.]]
-'''Coronal Mass Ejections''' (CMEs) are a direct result of magnetic instabilities (i.e. [[solar flares]]) on the surface of the [[Sun]] erupting and expelling millions of tons of solar plasma into interplanetary space. CMEs are strongly influenced by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).
+'''Coronal Mass Ejections''' (CMEs) (also known as "Solar Storms") are a direct result of magnetic instabilities (i.e. [[solar flares]]) on the surface of the [[Sun]] erupting and expelling millions of tons of solar plasma into interplanetary space. CMEs are strongly influenced by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).
 Note that most CME's are small and low energy.  However, rare powerful CME's create very dangerous solar storms which require far more shielding.  Space travellers and martian colonists should enter a [[Storm shelter]] for radiation protection.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:40, 16 September 2024
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	However, the assumption that we must have radiations level equal to or lower than the average level on Earth is very suspect. The city of Ramsar in Iran has radiation levels 50 times higher than the typical value on Earth. The people in this city exhibit no higher rates of cancer or disease than are typical for Earth. (See [[Radiation]] for references.) It is likely that people living on Mars will simply accept higher rates of radiation.		However, the assumption that we must have radiations level equal to or lower than the average level on Earth is very suspect. The city of Ramsar in Iran has radiation levels 50 times higher than the typical value on Earth. The people in this city exhibit no higher rates of cancer or disease than are typical for Earth. (See [[Radiation]] for references.) It is likely that people living on Mars will simply accept higher rates of radiation.
		+
		+	That said, a powerful solar storm is dangerous, and if it happens during the day time, settlers will need to be in a storm shelter.

	==Detecting damaging CME ions==		==Detecting damaging CME ions==

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 In addition, the Earth's atmosphere is over 100 times thicker than Mars'. This greatly increases the insulation of the planet from solar energetic particles, magnifying the intensity of aurorae. The Earth's atmosphere has the protective thickness equivalent to 10.3 meters of water,<ref>See discussion section. </ref> or approximately 3.4 meters of [[regolith]] (very important when considering [[hillside settlement|settlement design]]). The protective thickness of Mars' atmosphere is equal to only about a 27 cm thickness of water.
 [[Settlement]] designers must therefore assume that Mars' atmosphere will not protect settlers from high energy, ionizing particles emitted from the Sun.
 ==Detecting damaging CME ions==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Cme.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (LASCO) observation of a CME.]]
 '''Coronal Mass Ejections''' (CMEs) are a direct result of magnetic instabilities (i.e. [[solar flares]]) on the surface of the [[Sun]] erupting and expelling millions of tons of solar plasma into interplanetary space. CMEs are strongly influenced by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).
 ==A hazard to settlers?==

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 ===A contingency for Mars===
 Currently, Mars has no probe or observatory in the line of sight (LOS) of the Sun, leaving an unpatrolled expanse of interplanetary space for dangerous solar ions to pass unchecked. A possible solution (akin to the Earth's SoHO<ref>[http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/ SoHO mission page.]</ref> or ACE<ref>[http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ace/ ACE mission page.]</ref> observatories) could be to establish a simple and inexpensive solar observatory at the first Lagrangian Point<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrangian_point Lagrangian Point on Wikipedia.]</ref> (L<sub>1</sub>) in the Mars-Sun system. This is a gravitationally stable point in direct LOS with the Sun where a probe can be inserted to orbit around the Sun at the same rate as Mars. This proposed system would provide some warning for Mars settlers of the propagation of solar ions toward the Red Planet. See also: [[Early warning system (solar radiation)|Early warning system]]. If no such sensors were positioned between the Sun and Mars, interplanetary spacecraft or Mars habitats might be designed to include a sensor that can detect the x-ray burst that preceeds a solar proton event.  However, this system would probably only provide a 20-minute advance warning.<ref>Rapp D. (2006). Radiation Effects and Shielding Requirements in Human Missions to the Moon and Mars. Mars 2:46-71. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1555/mars.2006.0004</nowiki></ref>
 However, if the sun is active with flares that could create a CME pointing in the rough direction of Mars, the explorers there should be alert to the danger.  e.g. cancel long trips away from the habitat.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:28, 2 July 2024
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	However, if the sun is active with flares that could create a CME pointing in the rough direction of Mars, the explorers there should be alert to the danger. e.g. cancel long trips away from the habitat.		However, if the sun is active with flares that could create a CME pointing in the rough direction of Mars, the explorers there should be alert to the danger. e.g. cancel long trips away from the habitat.
		+
		+	If the base has a radiation storm shelter, the colonists should stay in this for the couple hour solar storm, if it happens during the day time.

	===References===		===References===

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 ==Detecting damaging CME ions==
-Warning Mars settlers about the onset of damaging ions is therefore a high priority. Even on Earth, predicting CMEs and dangerous ions is very important as a massive current of global scale is applied during solar storms. This effect can [[static electricity|damage delicate satellite circuits]], thermally expand the upper atmosphere (thickening the atmosphere in low Earth orbit, [[Aerobreaking|slowing down satellites and decreasing their orbital altitudes]]) and even cause damage to power grids on the ground ([[aurora|auroral electrojets]] can have the effect of overloading country-wide electricity grids).<ref>[http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/eiskappenman.html ''Geomagnetic Storms Can Threaten Electric Power Grid'' - American Geophysical Union article.]</ref> Methods of predicting and detecting Coronal Mass Ejections are constantly being developed, including sun observatories, but the most effective way of detecting the onset of an Earth-bound CME is to have a probe between the Earth and Sun.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/25may_costep.htm The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SoHO) acting as an early warning device.]</ref>
+Warning Mars settlers about the onset of damaging ions is therefore a high priority. Even on Earth, predicting CMEs and dangerous ions is very important as a massive current of global scale is applied during solar storms. This effect can [[static electricity|damage delicate satellite circuits]], thermally expand the upper atmosphere (thickening the atmosphere in low Earth orbit, [[Aerobreaking|slowing down satellites and decreasing their orbital altitudes]]) and even cause damage to power grids on the ground ([[aurora|auroral electrojets]] can have the effect of overloading country-wide electricity grids).<ref>[http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/eiskappenman.html ''Geomagnetic Storms Can Threaten Electric Power Grid'' - American Geophysical Union article.]</ref> Methods of predicting and detecting Coronal Mass Ejections are constantly being developed, including solar observatories, but the most effective way of detecting the onset of an Earth-bound CME is to have a probe between the Earth and Sun.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/25may_costep.htm The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SoHO) acting as an early warning device.]</ref>
 ===A contingency for Mars===