Solar winds exhibiting destructive potential can now be forecasted with accuracy four days in advance, thanks to AI technology.
The Center for Astrophysics and Space Science at New York University Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with NASA, has developed a groundbreaking AI-based technology for predicting solar winds. This advancement, part of NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, promises to revolutionise the way we prepare for space weather events.
Led by astrophysicist David McComas from Princeton University, the IMAP mission is set to launch from Cape Canaveral on September 23, 2025. Once in orbit, IMAP will observe the sun and solar wind continuously from the Lagrange point L1, collecting data crucial for forecasting dangerous solar storms.
The new AI system, trained using high-resolution ultraviolet images combined with historical records of solar winds from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, has shown a 45% improvement in prediction accuracy compared to current operational models. Moreover, it represents a 20% improvement over previous AI-based approaches.
The system analyses solar images to identify patterns related to changes in solar wind. Dattaraj Dhuri, a researcher at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science at NYU Abu Dhabi, stated that this advancement is a major step forward in protecting satellites, navigation systems, and energy infrastructures from the disruptive effects of space weather events.
Space weather events, caused by particle acceleration, can disrupt Earth's atmosphere, satellites, communication systems, power grids, and air traffic. In 2022, a phenomenon related to solar winds led to the loss of 40 Starlink satellites from SpaceX. With this new technology, such incidents could be minimised, reinforcing resilience to interruptions in critical infrastructures.
The advancement demonstrates how AI can solve one of the most complex challenges in space science: predicting solar winds. Solar wind is a continuous flow of charged particles released by the Sun. Understanding and predicting its behaviour is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of space-based technologies.
This AI-based technology is a significant stride in the field of space science, paving the way for more accurate and reliable predictions of solar winds. With the launch of IMAP on the horizon, we can look forward to a future where space weather events are better anticipated and managed.
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