October 18th
when: Friday 18/10/2019, 11:00
where: KE E-541 (møterom)
speaker: Pål Brekke (Norsk Romsenter)
title: A day without satellites - after a solar storm
abstract:
It’s easy to overlook the central role satellites play today, simply
because of how seamlessly they integrate into our daily lives. From tens
of thousands of kilometers away, navigation satellites help us navigate
with incredible precision. Our global communications systems would not
work without satellites. Satellites also enable remote regions, ships
and aircraft to communicate with the rest of world. We use satellites
for TV feeds, tracking ships, oil spill detection as well as providing
accurate weather forecasts. But what if a superstorm from the Sun
disrupts all satellites? What would be the impact on our technology
based society? This presentation will outline how it would be to wake up
one morning to a day without satellites.
Dr. Brekke is a solar physicist and senior advisor at the Norwegian
Space Agency. He worked for six years at NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center as the Deputy Project Scientist for SOHO. He is a Norwegian
delegate to several ESA Programme Boards and also a Professor at the
University of Svalbard. Dr. Brekke is also an author of several
international popular science books about the Sun and the Northern
Lights translated into seven languages. He has recently produced the
award-winning documentary "The Northern Lights - a Magic Experience. He
is also a member of the exclusive Explorers Club in New York.