Atmospheric drag on LEO satellites caused by energy inputs into the thermosphere from solar UV, FUV, Lyman-alpha, EUV, XUV, X-ray, and gamma ray photons as well as by charged particle precipitation and Joule heating at high latitudes; Surface and internal charging from increased energetic particle fluxes, leading to effects such as discharges, single event upsets and latch-up, on LEO to GEO satellites; Disrupted GPS signals caused by ionospheric scintillation leading to increased uncertainty in navigation systems such as aviation's Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS); Lost HF, UHF and L-band radio communications due to ionosphere scintillation, solar flares and geomagnetic storms; Increased radiation to human tissue and avionics from galactic cosmic rays SEP, especially during large solar flares, and possibly bremsstrahlung gamma-rays produced by precipitating radiation belt energetic electrons at altitudes above 8 km;Tobiska, et al., Advances in atmospheric radiation measurements and modeling needed to improve international air safety, Space Weather Journal, 2015 Increased inaccuracy in surveying and oil/gas exploration that uses the Earth's main magnetic field when it is disturbed by geomagnetic storms; Loss of power transmission from GIC surges in the electrical power grid and transformer shutdowns during large geomagnetic storms. Many of these disturbances result in societal impacts that account for a significant part of the national GDP.
aTmosphErIc Drag On LeO SaTelLitEs cAuseD BY EneRgy inPutS Into ThE ThErmOsPheRe from solar uv, fuv, LymaN-AlPHa, euv, Xuv, x-ray, aNd Gamma ray pHotoNs As Well as By chaRgeD ParticLe preCipitAtiOn anD jouLe HeatiNG aT hIGh latitudEs; suRFace anD IntErnal chARgIng from increaseD energetIC particlE FLuXes, leadInG to effECts Such aS DIschArges, singLE event upsets aNd lATCH-UP, on leo to gEO satEllIteS; disruptEd gPS SigNaLS cAuSed bY iOnosPheric scInTILlAtIon LEading to Increased UnCerTaintY iN navIgation syStems Such as aviatiOn'S WiDe Area AUGmentaTioN sysTem (wAaS); LosT hf, Uhf and l-band radIo ComMunicAtIons DuE To IonOspheRe ScinTIllatiOn, soLar flares ANd GEomaGnetic stoRms; INcreaSed raDIaTIon to human Tissue aNd aVIonics FROM GalaCtiC CosmiC raYS sep, eSpeCiAlly DUriNg lArge solAr flaREs, ANd pOsSiBlY BRemsstRahlung GamMA-rAYs ProDuCEd by PreCipITatiNg Radiation bELt EnerGETic ElectROns at alTitudeS abOve 8 Km;tobiska, eT al., advaNCeS In AtmospherIc RadIATiON mEASurEmEnTs ANd modeling needED tO ImpROve internaTiOnal aIr saFeTY, spACe WeatHER Journal, 2015 incReased inAccuRACy In surveYiNg AnD oIl/GaS eXPloration tHAt Uses The eartH's main magnetiC fIElD when it iS distUrbEd bY geomagNetIc STorMs; lOsS of PoweR trAnsMISsIOn FRom Gic SuRgEs IN thE elEcTricaL PowEr gRid aND traNsfoRmer shUtdoWns durInG larGe GEOmAGnetiC Storms. many of theSe diSTURbances reSuLt iN sociEtaL iMPACTS thAt account for a SIgniFiCant pArT OF tHe nAtIonaL gdp.