Alexander von Humboldt Lecture Series:
"From Alexander von Humboldt’s Observations to modern Heliophysics - Solar flares, Solar winds, and Space weather in the Solar System"
Guest Speaker: Ulrich v. Kusserow, Bremen
The term space weather defines and describes changes in the interplanetary medium, in the direct environment of our sun known as the heliosphere, especially of course in the magnetosphere and atmosphere of the earth. Even during the time of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), natural scientists investigated the periodic occurrence and the development of large dark spots on the sun and suspected a narrower connection with the fluctuations of the earth's magnetic field and the associated variations of the fascinating polar light phenomena. But it was not until 100 years later that scientists realized that it was the enormous solar eruptions and the magnetized solar winds that were responsible for the sometimes drastic changes observed and measured, especially in the direct environment of our earth. It is the solar winds that shape the tail of comets and forms the earth's magnetic field. It is the effects of the matter and energy ejected from the solar atmosphere that decisively determine the development of life on our planet. In this lecture, which is vividly illustrated by extensive image and video material, the great significance of the influence of cosmic magnetic fields on the particularly dynamic processes in our solar system is illustrated and explained in more detail. Among other things, the physically relevant processes that can cause the solar corona to heat up to several million degrees and the strong acceleration of the magnetized solar wind will be discussed. The potentially massive influence of space weather on the Earth's climate and life on our planet can thus be made comprehensible. Telecommunication, navigation, and energy supply systems can be disturbed by it, our health or even the lives of people in airplanes or insufficiently protected astronauts in space can be endangered. The aim of the heliophysics is therefore, in particular, to research and obtain reliable predictions of the development of space weather in the Earth-Sun system.
Content of the lecture:
- Dynamic processes in our magnetic sun
- Solar eruptions and turbulent solar wind currents
- Development of comet tails, magnetic storms and polar lights
- Exploration of the space weather in the heliosphere
- Influence of space weather on the Earth's climate on our lives and individual health
Further information on this lecture can be obtained from Ulrich v. Kusserow E-mail: uvkusserow [at] t-online.de
Date: 4.12.19
Time: 19 pm
Place: Research V
Everyone is welcome to attend
The Alexander von Humboldt 250 Years Anniversary Lecture Series is part of the Wednesday open bilingual Kolloquium "English & Deutsch for JU, The Human Experience in Culture, Science and World Peace" by Cynthia Bolen-Nieland