Space weather is a general term describing conditions in spacethat affect the Earth and our technological systems. Geomagneticstorms, which can not only cripple the electrical grid but alsocorrode oil and gas pipelines, are only one aspect of spaceweather. 

Solar flares can disrupt radio communication, aviationcommunication, and navigation, and they can interfere with the GPSsignals used in our positioning and timing technologies.

One perhaps under-addressed risk is a cascading interruption inenergy supply. Even a short-term electrical power outage can createa shortage in oil supply because oil refineries depend onelectrical power from the grid. A refinery can take up to severaldays to recover from an electric power outage. 

Most space-weather events originate at the Sun and are aconsequence of its magnetic outbursts. The Sun's magnetic activityis periodic, with a peak in activity approximately every 11 years.For several years surrounding this peak, the chance of solar stormsis much higher. We are currently in Cycle 24, with a predicted peakin June 2013.

This means that from now until 2017 or so, we should be on alertfor strong solar flares and large coronal-mass ejections.Historically, the strongest storms happen during the decline of thesolar cycle, so the period from 2013 through 2017 may pose thelargest risk.