Space Weather

Discover related resources in the Understanding Hazards Collection and on the Big Weather page.

What is space weather?

Space weather is the weather conditions in space. Space weather is different to the weather we commonly experience on earth. It can affect satellites, astronauts and even life on Earth.

Space weather happens when the Sun releases energy, radiation and charged particles. Some of this energy travels across space as solar wind. Solar wind is a stream of charged particles that can interact with planets and other objects.

Earth regularly experiences space weather. Auroras are created when charged particles interact with the Earth’s magnetic field near the north and south poles.

However, severe space weather can be hazardous to electronic systems and to people in space and on Earth. Because it can:

Interfere with satellites
Disrupt radio signals used for communication
Impact navigation systems like GPS
Affect power grids
Increase radiation levels in the atmosphere, which can affect aircraft passengers, crew and astronauts.

For more information click here to explore the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre educational resources

(SWS - Educational , BOM; Space Prediction Center, NOAA)

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Full-disk view of the Sun glowing in deep red and orange tones, with multiple bright active regions and flares scattered across the surface, and a prominent burst of plasma extending outward along the right edge into the dark background of space.

Solar flares (seen in the bottom right of the image) release radiation into space which can reach Earth in around 8 minutes. (Source: NASA)

How do we manage space weather risk?

Severe space weather can interfere with technology, communications systems and expose people in planes and on spacecraft to increased radiation.

Governments around the world monitor space weather conditions and provide warnings to prevent damage and disruption to critical infrastructure.

In Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology has developed the Australian Space Weather Alert System (ASWAS) to provide clear guidance on how space weather can impact different industries and the public.

ASWAS rates the potential impact and likelihood of geomagnetic storms, solar radiation storms and radio blackouts on a five-point scale.

Sectors most affected by severe space weather include:

Energy
Aviation
Defence
Space
Telecommunications

Visit the Bureau of Meteorology for information about current space weather and warnings.

Close-up image of a solar flare erupting from the Sun’s surface, showing bright plasma loops and streams of charged particles extending into space against a dark background. ( Source: NASA)

Prepare, plan and stay safe

We can also prepare for the possible impacts of space weather by practicing our emergency management plans and procedures. In 2024, Australia ran a national space weather exercise.

You can read about this exercise here:

Australia