Context:
Indian scientists are studying near-Earth space to understand the ionosphere and space weather, which affect communication, satellites and navigation systems.
Near-Earth Space
Near-Earth space includes the region around Earth influenced by:
- Earth’s magnetic field
- Solar radiation
- Charged particles
- Ionospheric activity
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is the ionised layer of Earth’s upper atmosphere.
It affects:
- Radio communication
- GPS accuracy
- Satellite signals
- Space weather effects
Ionospheric Layers
The ionosphere includes:
- D region
- E region
- F region
Why It Matters
Changes in near-Earth space can affect:
- Satellite communication
- Navigation systems
- GPS
- Aviation
- Defence communication
- Power grids
Space Weather
Space weather refers to conditions in space caused mainly by solar activity.
It includes:
- Solar flares
- Coronal mass ejections
- Geomagnetic storms
- Charged particle flows
Significance
Studying near-Earth space helps improve:
- Communication navigation
- Satellite operations
- Disaster prediction
- Weather and climate understanding
- Defence preparedness
- Space mission safety
