Space threats and their effects, SafeEarth Research Programme perspective

SafeEarth Research Programme combines research fields in space safety, cybersecurity and human security into a comprehensive and highly timely security theme, namely comprehensive security. SafeEarth examines changes in the magnetic environment and enhance our understanding on how space threats affect to the societies and nature in the arctic regions.

 

Arctic polar areas experience effects of space threats that are unforeseen at the more southerly latitudes. Rapid magnetic fluctuations and pulsations are observed at the auroral oval during large and small geomagnetic disturbances driven by space storms. The strongest geomagnetic disturbances are released from the complex active regions of the Sun. The harmfull effects of space storms affect technology and humans in space and on ground. This presentation will show examples on these effects and describe the methods developed to better forecast when the space threats should be expected and how to best protect the vulnerable assets agains space hazards. We will show aims and results on the European Defence Fund project (BODYGUARD) and NATO Science for Peace and Security funded project Dynamics above the epicentre of climate change (DECC).