File photo: All security measures taken to protect KuwaitSat-1 during launch

KUWAIT CITY, October 27: As the media increasingly talks about the effects of space weather on our daily lives, the team of the Kuwait Muon Observatory of the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Science of the University of Kuwait asserts that these phenomena are a natural part of the solar system. In a press release issued by Kuwait University, the team provided a simplified scientific explanation of space weather and highlighted the role of the Kuwaiti observatory in monitoring these phenomena and predicting their effects.

Just as Earth’s weather exhibits seasonal variations, space weather refers to the changes that occur in the outer space surrounding Earth due to solar activity. The sun follows a solar activity cycle of approximately 11 years, reaching its peak magnetic activity during this period. At peak, sunspots, solar flares, and solar storms become more frequent, increasing the likelihood that high-speed charged particles will be emitted from the sun. When these particles reach Earth, they can disrupt the magnetosphere that protects the planet, causing temporary disruptions in Earth’s magnetic field. These solar storms can impact technological systems on Earth, including satellites, communications systems, power plants and GPS devices. Although such effects are rare, they may cause temporary disruption. This has prompted scientists to prioritize predicting these storms and implementing the necessary precautions to protect the technology.

For example, Kuwait’s satellite team, KuwaitSat 1, continuously monitors space weather and takes necessary measures to protect satellite systems in the event of solar storms. To improve space weather monitoring, the Kuwait Muon Observatory was established in 2006 under the Department of Physics at Kuwait University. It is part of the Global Muon Detector Network (GMDN), funded by Shinshu University in Japan, which includes similar observatories in Japan, Australia and Brazil to cover much of the globe. The Kuwaiti Muon Observatory is the largest in the global muon network. It monitors muons, which are particles formed from fragments created by cosmic ray collisions with Earth’s atmosphere. During a solar storm, the intensity of cosmic rays is affected, which in turn affects the number of muons that reach the Earth’s surface. When the Kuwaiti Muon Observatory detects such changes, the data is analyzed within the global network, allowing alerts to be issued about major solar storms several hours before they reach Earth.

This advance notice gives governments and businesses ample time to take necessary precautions, as changes in muon levels precede the arrival of solar storms. The Muon Observatory team understands that some media reports may exaggerate the effects of space weather, especially as the Sun enters its peak solar activity. However, they emphasize that space weather does not pose a threat to humans; rather, it is a natural phenomenon that occurs regularly. The Sun last reached peak activity in 2014. The team highlighted the importance of understanding space weather as a recurring natural event and stressed that scientific efforts and international cooperation are essential to accurate monitoring and forecasting of these phenomena.