Space weather

◆ Engeli Haupt

Very hot and very cold

Have you ever wondered how cold it is in space? Well, apparently the vacuum of space has no temperature.But, put an object in space and it is going to experience some extreme temperatures: if left in the sunlight an object can heat up to 260º Celsius, roughly 200 degrees hotter than the hottest place on Earth.In the shade temperatures can drop to -100ºC.This is much colder than the coldest places on our planet: Antarctica has an average temperature of -55°C with a record low of -89.2°C.If you want to visit Pluto, don’t forget to pack your space jacket, because it can get as cold as -260° Celsius!

Why it’s not so extreme on Earth

Luckily we enjoy milder climates on our planet.Earth has its own protective blanket called the ionosphere, which is a layer of gas that forms when X-rays and UV rays from the sun collide in the outer layer called the upper atmosphere.This layer also protects us from solar winds, which are storms that form in the sun’s core.The effect of solar winds can be seen at the North and South Pole in the form of the Northern and Southern Lights, which are seen as beautiful colours in the sky.Solar storms can be fatal for humans in space and they also cause problems for radio, television and Internet-b ased satellite services.So, can we rely on the weatherman?

Are we safe?

Solar winds can take two to four days to reach our planet, so they can be seen in time for astronauts to take precautions by getting back into the safety of their space shuttles and satellite operators to turn off sensitive equipment.Space weather is observed from the ground by tracking changes in the earth’s magnetic fi eld, and also with satellites in space that record solar winds and radiation.So, don’t be afraid, because there are many eyes on the skies keeping us safe.

Activity 2

Now complete the sentences using words and phrases from the text.

1.A hundred years ago people did not (____) important dates like births and deaths.Many people did not know when their exact birth date was.

2.Astronomers are people who study the stars and (____) their movement.

3.Journey to the Centre of the Earth is a fictional book, since we do not have the technology to travel to the Earth’s (____).

4.Many of the stars we see are moving through space and sometimes they (____) with other stars.

5.Scientists are now using the sun to create electricity.It is called (____) power.

6.The Apollo is a (____) that took astronauts to the moon.

7.We (____) the government to supply electricity.

8.While scientists can use special equipment to remove air from a space, it is impossible to create a perfect (____).

Activity 3

Decide whether the statements refer to a, b or c, according to the information in the text.

a.space

b.Earth

c.another planet

Activity 3

1.An object can heat up to 260 degrees Celsius in the sunlight.

2.It can get as cold as 100 degrees below zero.

3.It is the coldest temperature mentioned in the text.

4.It is surrounded by a protective layer.

5.You can see the effects of solar winds here.

Activity 4

Complete the sentences using the comparative or superlative form of the adjective in brackets.

Example: The moon is (____) [small] the Earth.

Answer: smaller than

1.Antarctica is (____) [cold] place on Earth.

2.(____) [high] temperature ever registered was in Death Valley.

3.Temperatures on Pluto are much (____) [low] on Earth.

4.Space travel is (____) [expensive] means of transport.

5.Solar storms are (____) [dangerous] thunder storms.

Activity 5

Where is the hottest or coldest place you have ever been?

Do you think space weather could be a threat to life on Earth?

Answers

Activity 1

1.c 2.b 3.h 4.g 5.f 6.a 7.e 8.d

Activity 2

1.record 2.track/record 3.core 4.collide 5.solar 6.space shuttle 7.rely on 8.vacuum

Activity 3

1.a 2.a 3.c 4.b 5.b

Activity 4

1.the coldest 2.The highest 3.lower than 4.the most expensive 5.more dangerous than