What are solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs)? Explain how they can cause radio blackouts on Earth.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space.
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space.
Q5. What are solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs)? Explain how they can cause radio blackouts on Earth. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question With ISRO issuing warnings on strong radio blackout risks during intense solar storms, space weather has become a practical challenge for India’s satellite-based communications, navigation and critical services. Key Demand of the question The question requires you to clearly define solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) as distinct solar events. It also asks you to explain how these phenomena disturb the ionosphere and magnetosphere, resulting in radio blackouts on Earth. Structure of the Answer: Introduction Link solar activity with disruption risks to communication and navigation, and briefly introduce space weather as an emerging vulnerability for modern infrastructure. Body Define solar flares as sudden bursts of radiation and CMEs as plasma-magnetic field eruptions. Explain how solar flares cause immediate D-layer ionisation leading to HF radio absorption and blackouts. Explain how CMEs trigger geomagnetic storms causing ionospheric instability and degraded radio/satellite signal propagation. Conclusion End with a forward-looking line on strengthening space weather forecasting and operational preparedness, with reference to Aditya-L1 and institutional monitoring.
Why the question
With ISRO issuing warnings on strong radio blackout risks during intense solar storms, space weather has become a practical challenge for India’s satellite-based communications, navigation and critical services.
Key Demand of the question
The question requires you to clearly define solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) as distinct solar events. It also asks you to explain how these phenomena disturb the ionosphere and magnetosphere, resulting in radio blackouts on Earth.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Link solar activity with disruption risks to communication and navigation, and briefly introduce space weather as an emerging vulnerability for modern infrastructure.
• Define solar flares as sudden bursts of radiation and CMEs as plasma-magnetic field eruptions.
• Explain how solar flares cause immediate D-layer ionisation leading to HF radio absorption and blackouts.
• Explain how CMEs trigger geomagnetic storms causing ionospheric instability and degraded radio/satellite signal propagation.
Conclusion
End with a forward-looking line on strengthening space weather forecasting and operational preparedness, with reference to Aditya-L1 and institutional monitoring.