On 22 Nov, 22:57, Rodney Blackall
wrote:
The Royal Meteorological Society meeting yesterday (Wed 21 Nov) was about
'space weather' and how the solar wind, flares, CMEs affect us (or don't).

Piers Corbyn was not there which was a pity!

It seems there are quite big effects down to 100 km agl and sometimes down
to 30 km. The major impact is at high latitudes (aurora zone) usually
causing extra heating which sends gravity waves equatorwards. The transit
time sun to Earth may be as long as five days. The ripples did not seem to
be localised.

Local effects ARE observed - these are caused by ultra-high energy particles
and cosmic rays. The sources are not obvious, the timing cannot be foretold
and at the velocities concerned a tiny error moves the particle shower a
very long way. Eruptions on the far side of the Sun are currently invisible
until the Sun has rotated enough, so predictions from new areas of activity
are questionable to say the least.

The main variations in solar output are at the extreme ends of the spectrum
(i.e. carry only a tiny fraction of the whole energy) and make most impact
in the exosphere, magnetosphere etc. which don't contribute much bulk to the
atmosphere as a whole! It seemed that noone has come up with a way of
showing a coupling between the atmosphere at 100 km DOWN to the troposphere.
A coupling UPWARDS via planetary waves can be demonstrated.

NEXT MEETING - ELECTRIFICATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

--
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Seeing Dr Iain Stewart's sprites last night has whetted my appetite
for your next meeting.

Cheers, Alastair.