If you are interested in more detailed background information, go to the science brief for this investigation. There are still many unanswered questions related to solar activity and the possible effects here on the Earth. In this investigation you will gain an understanding of how and why this topic is currently being studied in such detail. You are now ready to investigate the events of early May 1998. Access and print the worksheet and then follow the steps in the procedure as you complete the worksheet.
Procedure:
Step 1: Solar Activity Early May 1998
Solar Images Below are a set of images of the sun taken by the SOHO and YOHKOH
satellites May 2, 1998. The images are taken by collecting different wavelengths of light. The active regions of the sun are clearly visible and labeled. Click on the image to link to a more detailed view. Examine the images and answer questions 1 & 2 on your worksheet.
(http://www.lmsal.com/SXT/archive/First_Light_980502_1200.gif )
Movies of Solar Events recorded by the SOHO Satellite
http://lasco-www.nrl.navy.mil/daily_mpg/1998_05/ Click on the link to view movies of solar activity on May 2, 1998. At the site select the May 2, 1998 events. ( Select those that are listed 980502 ) Answer question 4 on your worksheet.
The Sunspot Cycle and Solar Activty The graph below illustrates the recorded sunspot number through 1998 and shows the predicted number through 2007. The Sun Images
below show changes in the sun during the last solar cycle. Notice the difference between solar activity from solar minimum (left on image) to solar maximum (right). Answer questions 5 - 7 on your worksheet.
http://www.sunspotcycle.com/
http://www.lmsal.com/SXT/img/The_Changing_Sun.gif
Step 2: EARLY MAY 1998 SOLAR WIND RECORDS Following an event on the Sun there are many changes that may be detected in solar wind and magnetic fields in space. In order to simplify this investigation, we will focus only on solar wind speed. First go to the link below and answer questions 8 - 10 on your worksheet.
SOLAR WIND (http://inspire.ospi.wednet.edu:8001/curric/space/aurora/aurofaq7.html )
The graph below was retrieved from NASA’s Coordinated Data Analysis Web (CDAWeb) on the internet. The graph shows solar wind speed data collected by the ACE satellite during the end of April and the beginning of May. Examine the graph and answer question 11.
Step 3: SOLAR WIND PARTICLES ENTERING THE EARTH SYSTEM
Visit the link below and answer questions 12 & 13 on your worksheet.
AURORA http://www.athena.ivv.nasa.gov/curric/space/aurora/aurofaq3.html
The images below are from the POLAR satellite. They show x rays emitted as high energy particles interact with gases in the upper atmosphere forming auroras over the polar regions. Red shows the most intense auroras. Use the images to answer questions 14 -15.
STEP 4: Energetic Particles Inside the Magnetosphere The SAMPEX satellite monitors high energy particles inside the magnetosphere. The graphs below are from the SAMPEX satellite and show the number of high energy particles detected (shown by color), along different magnetic field lines in the magnetosphere (L shells), during a time period (shown by day number of the year). The graph below shows SAMPEX data from April and May. Examine the graph and answer questions 16 & 17.
http://lepsam.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/may98_event/eos.gif)
STEP 5: Satellite Problems that occurred During this Time Period There is growing
concern in the scientific and business communities about possible effects of solar activity
and charged particles on satellites, communication and electrical systems on earth. Go to the two links below, read the articles below and answer the questions 18 - 20 on your worksheet.
Galaxy 4 Satellite http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9805/20/satellite.outage/
SAMPEX Explanation http://lepsam.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/recent_results.html#baker_1998_00
STEP 6: YOUR SOLAR ACTIVITY REPORT
GOAL: You are a research scientist at NASA. The NASA director has assigned you to describe solar activity and how it was monitored during a time period in the past. Your report to the director should include descriptions of:
Follow the steps below to take notes on your worksheet and collect data for the report that you will write. As you locate data copy the data images to a word processing document so that you can print them and include them in your report. To do this: Click on the image and select copy image. Go to a word processing document and select Edit / Paste.
1. Select a time period to study
|
|
|
| August 24 - 28 1998 |
January 1-4, 1998
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| April 7-11, 1997 |
November 2-5, 1997
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| January 6-11, 1997 | September 23-26 1998 |
| September 27-Oct 1, 1997 | |
| April 14-16, 1998 | |
2. View SOHO & YOHKOH images: Diagram and describe solar activity. Describe satellites.
Solar Activity Links
SUN SPOT AND SOLAR ACTIVITY CYCLE (http://www.sunspotcycle.com/ )
PAST IMAGES FROM YOHKOH SXT & SOHO http://www.lmsal.com/SXT/archive/
Examine the list and locate the year, month and date of your event.
SOHO MOVIE ARCHIVE http://lasco-www.nrl.navy.mil/daily_mpg/c1/
Examine the list and locate the year and month of your event.
YOHKOH Satellite Information http://www.lmsal.com/YPOP/homepage.html
SOHO Satellite Information http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/descriptions/mission/english/
3. Access and examine Solar Wind Data
Solar Wind Data
DATA FROM WIND & ACE SATELLITES In order to access Solar Wind Data you will utilize the Coordinated Data Analysis Web (CDAWeb). This is a large NASA data base that holds data from instruments on over a dozen satellites. You will be accessing satellite data just like NASA scientists. Follow the directions below to access stored solar wind data.
A. Click on link to go to CDAWeb page. http://rumba.gsfc.nasa.gov/cdaweb/istp_public/
Source Selection
Instrument Type
B. CDAWeb Data Selector Page
C. CDAWeb Data Explorer Page
Select Start and Stop Times
Plotting Options
Key Parameters
D. When Security Notice comes up click on send
ACE Satellite Information http://sd-www.jhuapl.edu/ACE/ACE_FactSheet.html
WIND Satellite Information http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/wind/wind.html
4. Particles in the Magnetosphere In order to get the data you will need to use the website to locate the data from your time period. The data is listed by day number. Day number 1 is January first, day number 32 is February first etc... If no data is available for your time period explain that in your report.
SAMPEX Data http://lepsam.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/public_sampex.html
SAMPEX Satellite Information http://lepsam.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/introduction.html
5. Aurora Images In order to get the aurora image from your time period you will need to go to the link below and then click on the PIXIE IMAGE ARCHIVE, then on the THUMBNAIL OPTION, and then select your time period.
POLAR Satellite PIXIE Aurora Images http://www.fi.uib.no/Spacephysics/PIXIE_mirror/
6. Why is it important for scientists to study solar activity and the effects upon the earth? Visit the site below so that you can explain to the NASA director why this is an important topic to study.
Effects of Solar Activtiy from NASA Image Poetry
(http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry//storm/storms.html )
Coding:
Maryland Core Learning Goals (Science): 1:4 , 1:5 , 2:1:2
National Standards (Science): D:1, E:2
National Standards (Geography): 7:2, 15:1
Investigation Discussion and Questions
Questions are found on the Worksheet
Feedback:
Please send feedback to Pilot Investigation
Credits:
Gregg A. Stickler, Principal Investigator
Dr. Ramona Kessel, NASA Science Advisor
Cheryl Overington, Principal Investigator
Shrikanth Kanekal NASA Science Advisor
& SAMPEX Satellite Team
