Helioseismology has taken another step, and could have benefits for communications and future space missions. I watched an interview on BBC breakfast whilst having a day off work, the UK involvement was why it was mentioned, very interesting, please see the BBC article below...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5217080.stm

"At present, missions like Soho, which has been in operation for 10 years, are unable to show whether a CME is heading for Earth or away from it."

 

Hmm interesting, good thing it's going to change.

wow interesting, how dangerous are CMEs to Earth?

People on the ground are safe but astronauts, satellites, power grids and other technological gadgets are in trouble.

 

A space storm's impact is measured in nano-Teslas (nT), a moderate storm can be around -100 nT; extreme and damaging storms have been logged at around -300 nT.

 

The 1989 coronal mass ejection that knocked out power to all of Quebec, Canada measured -589 nT.

 

The 1859 perfect storm was estimated to have been -1,760 nT, the telegraph wires suddenly shorted out in the United States and Europe, igniting widespread fires.

 

The Great Storm

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mystery_monday_031027.html

 

Astronauts Sleep in Safety from Solar Flare

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/061213_sts116_solarflare.html

 

Space Station Glitch Possibly Caused by Solar Flare

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/061215_sts115_issflare.html