TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - THE NEAR SPACE ENVIRONMENT

1. An Astronomical Unit is the mean distance Earth to Sun. What is this in km?
2. What is the average temperature of the solar photosphere?
3. How long does light take to travel between the Earth and the Sun?
4. A sunspot has two distinct areas. What are their names?
5. What solar phenomenon is believed asssociated with recurrent geomagnetic storms?
6. Only two techniques can currently probe the solar interior. Name them?
7. What is the average height of a typical meteor?
8. What is the average length of a sunspot cycle?
9. What phenomenon is shown in the sunspot "Butterfly diagram"?
10. Name the researcher associated with the discovery of solar radio emissions.
11. What is the formula for computing smoothed sunspot number?
12. Name three effects of a geomagnetic storm.
13. What ionospheric layer is most important for long distance HF communication?
14. In what months are magnetic disturbances more probable?
15. For what do the letters PCA stand?
16. What order of magnitude is the average geomagnetic field?
17. What ionospheric layer is responsible for the greatest radiowave absorption?
18. In what way is a VLF signal affected by a sudden ionospheric disturbance?
19. What is the possible range of values of the geomagnetic K-indices?
20. Who was the first person in modem history to observe sunspots?
21. What is the Maunder Minimum?
22. What is the approximate delay between a large flare and a geomagnetic storm?
23. Name two effects of high energy particles on geosynchronous spacecraft.
24. What is the meaning of the acronym MUF?
25. What is the name given to the constant outward stream of particles from the Sun?
26. On what part of the Earth may a shortwave fade (SWF) be experienced?
27. What is the mechanism by which the ionosphere may affect satellite navigation systems?
28. What body in the solar system, beside the Sun, emits significant radio signals?
29. What type of low Earth orbit is most susceptible to high radiation levels?
30. What terrestrial visual phenomenon is associated with large geomagnetic storms?
31. What is the height of the geosynchronous orbit?
32. For what does the acronym SSC stand?
33. What frequency of solar radio emission correlates best with overall solar activity?
34. What is a geomagnetic crochet?
35. What ionospheric regions disappear in the night hours?
36. What is the approximate altitude of the ionospheric D-layer?
37. What is a possible geoeffect of a solar disappearing filament?
38. What is the approximate solar rotation period at sunspot latitudes?
39. What are the two indices that appear to be correlated with satellite drag?
40. Name the primary solar radiation that creates the ionospheric F-layer.

Australian Space Academy