Space Radiation Environment

Question 1

What does a bow-shock refer to?

Answer 1

Solar wind with charged particles < 100 keV hit the earth’s magnetic field and cause it to compress on the midday side and tail on the midnight side

Question 2

In the event of an extreme bow-shock, what challenges are there?

Answer 2

Satellites in GEO could end up being hit by the bow shock and exposed to the solar winds

Question 3

What is the consequence for current geomagnetic models of the gradual change and reversal of earth’s internal fields?

Answer 3

care needs to be obtained when modelling the field as the field has changed since the main models were developed