Space Weather
Space Weather is a core knowledge area on the Aviation Weather FAA written exam. This hub collects our 5 in-depth, ACS-aligned space weather articles — each written in plain English and grounded in the official FAA handbooks. Work through them below, then drill the topic with practice questions.
Solar Flares, CMEs, and Geomagnetic Storms Explained
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and geomagnetic storms are the primary drivers of space weather that can disrupt aviation communications, navigation, and crew radiation exposure — all covered in FAA-H-8083-28B Chapter 23.
Reading Space Weather Advisories and Their Operational Impact
Space weather from solar emissions and cosmic rays can disrupt communications, navigation, and expose crews to radiation — understanding FAA advisories and the underlying science is essential for safe flight operations.
Space Weather Basics: The Sun, Solar Wind, and the Solar Cycle
The Sun drives space weather through continuous solar wind and eruptive events tied to an 11-year sunspot cycle, creating conditions that can disrupt radio communications, navigation systems, and expose aircrew to elevated radiation.
Radiation Exposure to Flight Crews at High Altitude and Latitude
High-altitude and high-latitude flight crews receive elevated radiation doses from both solar particles and galactic cosmic rays; understanding the solar cycle, CMEs, and Earth's magnetic shielding is essential for managing that risk.
How Space Weather Disrupts HF Communications and GPS Navigation
Space weather—driven by solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and cosmic radiation—can degrade or completely knock out HF radio communications and GPS navigation, creating serious hazards for aviators operating in affected airspace.
More Aviation Weather subjects
Articles are original summaries grounded in the public-domain FAA handbooks and cite their source. ACS-aligned study aids — not a substitute for the official handbooks or regulations.