An Introduction to Space Weather

This updated introductory textbook, with added learning features, explains how the Sun influences the Earth and its near-space environment.

Mark Moldwin (Author)

9781108791717, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 December 2022

224 pages
24.3 x 17 x 1.2 cm, 0.46 kg

'I have used Professor Moldwin's book in Embry–Riddle's second-year undergraduate class 'Introduction to Space Weather'. Professor Moldwin's book has worked as a great and highly motivating introductory text for important space weather phenomena. It has been developed with pedagogy and student learning in mind. The book is well written, clear, and captivating. The freshmen students liked the conceptual nature of the text, so the content was easy to grasp with only some introductory physics/math background. I plan on continuing to use this book when teaching this class next time.' Heidi Nykyri, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University

Our space age technology enables global communication, navigation, and power distribution that has given rise to our 'smart', interconnected and spacefaring world. Much of the infrastructure modern society depends on, to live on Earth and to explore space, is susceptible to space weather storms originating from the Sun. The Second Edition of this introductory textbook is expanded to reflect our increased understanding from more than a dozen scientific missions over the past decade. Updates include discussions of the rapidly expanding commercial space sector, orbital debris and collision hazards, our understanding of solar-terrestrial connections to climate, and the renewed emphasis of human exploration of the Moon and Mars. It provides new learning features to help students understand the science and solve meaningful problems, including some based on real-world data. Each chapter includes learning objectives and supplements that provide descriptions of the science and learning strategies to help students and instructors alike.

1. What is Space Weather?
2. The Variable Sun
3. The Heliosphere
4. Earth's Space Environment
5. Earth's Upper Atmosphere
6. Technological Impacts of Space Storms
7. Space Weather Modeling and Forecasting
8. The Perils of Living in Space
9. Other Space Weather Phenomena.

Subject Areas: Atmospheric physics [PHVJ], Plasma physics [PHFP], Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS]