The Emergence of Space Weather from the Roots of Space Physics (Invited Presentation)

Space weather is a key concern for all aspects of our day-to-day life but for most individuals, institutions, governments and policy makers it is a puzzling hazard. As the human race has become more and more infatuated with, and dependent on, electronics to do the most basic and complex tasks, our vulnerability to the effect of space storms has increased to a critical level. Solar flares, coronal holes and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can produce large bursts of radiation, high speed electrons and protons, and other highly energetic particles that can affect all parts of Earth and the inner solar system. A major solar event has the potential to have significant effects on satellites, on human missions in space, on the power grids on Earth, on the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and on commercial air travel. In addition to the day-to-day activities, the time impact on, shipping, agriculture, mining, urban operations and, of course, the use of cell phones would be affected. With these risks comes the need for a better understanding of the Sun, a better process for Space Weather prediction, a formalized policy for decision-making, and an executable plan of action for such an event that is relayed and understood by the average citizen as well as by global leaders. This talk will trace the history of human recognition of the threats of space weather and how this discipline emerged from the roots of basic space physics.