Editing Space weather (section)

=== Beginnings ===
In 1724, [[George Graham (clockmaker)|George Graham]] reported that the needle of a [[magnetic compass]] was regularly deflected from [[magnetic north]] over the course of each day. This effect was eventually attributed to overhead electric currents flowing in the ionosphere and magnetosphere by [[Balfour Stewart]] in 1882, and confirmed by [[Arthur Schuster]] in 1889 from analysis of magnetic observatory data.

In 1852, astronomer and British Major General [[Edward Sabine]] showed that the probability of the occurrence of [[geomagnetic storm]]s on Earth was correlated with the number of [[sunspots]], demonstrating a novel solar-terrestrial interaction. The [[solar storm of 1859]] caused brilliant auroral displays and disrupted global [[telegraph]] operations. [[Richard Christopher Carrington|Richard Carrington]] correctly connected the storm with a [[solar flare]] that he had observed the day before near a large sunspot group, demonstrating that specific solar events could affect the Earth.

[[Kristian Birkeland]] explained the physics of aurorae by creating artificial ones in his laboratory, and predicted the solar wind.

The introduction of radio revealed that solar weather could cause extreme static or noise. [[Radar jamming]] during a large solar event in 1942 led to the discovery of solar radio bursts, radio waves over a broad frequency range created by a solar flare.