site.btaBulgarian Scientists Study Impact of Solar Activity on Earth from Antarctica

Assistant Professor Dr. Ivaylo Nachev from the Technical University of Sofia is a researcher in Bulgaria's first polar astronomy project. On Livingston Island he has installed scientific measuring equipment designed and built in the Department of Radio Communications and Video Technologies. It is being used to carry out radio observations of the Sun as part of a project studying the impact of solar activity on ionospheric dynamics and high-energy particle fluxes over Antarctica.

Dr. Nachev emphasizes that the project is an example of successful cooperation between the Institute of Astronomy and the National Astronomical Observatory in Rozhen at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Varna’s Naval School and the Technical University in Sofia. The instrumentation installed at the Bulgarian Antarctic base has been functioning smoothly for nearly two months, collecting valuable data on solar activity and its relation to the Earth's magnetic field.

Four main experiments are being conducted within the project. The first is aimed at measuring radio emissions from solar flares. Antarctica provides an extremely clean environment for such observations, as there are no local disturbers, such as communication technologies, which would otherwise make accurate measurements difficult. This allows clear association of a particular radio signal with specific solar activity.

The second experiment investigates solar flares and their impact on the ionosphere. Dr Nachev explains that the equipment, developed at the Technical University, has been installed both in Bulgaria and on Livingston Island. This allows precise tracking of solar flares and determination of their impact on the different hemispheres.

The third experiment is aimed at measuring the Earth's magnetic field and its variations and their relation to solar activity. Having measurement equipment near the poles is key, as the Earth's field lines converge precisely in the polar regions. Data from these measurements will help to analyze how the magnetic field responds to different solar events.

The fourth experiment examines high-energy particles that enter the atmosphere during ejection of plasma or coronal mass ejections from the Sun. These particles, attracted by the Earth's magnetic field, concentrate in the polar regions. Comparison of the data with the results of the previous two experiments will allow more accurate predictions of the effects of solar activity.

Dr. Nachev stresses that this research is particularly valuable because the Sun is currently at the peak of its 11-year cycle. Observing it during this period will provide important insights into future solar cycles, complement research into the relationship between the Earth's magnetic field and solar activity, and provide new data on geomagnetic storms. He notes that there is evidence in the scientific literature of people experiencing discomfort during such storms. The published experimental results will allow other scientists to analyze the relationship between solar activity, geomagnetic storms and their impact on human health.

Nachev said that one of the main goals of the project is to promote polar astronomy and space research. In this regard, he expressed his gratitude to Associate Professor Veselka Radeva, who on February 15 hosted a video conference between Livingston Island and the Planetarium of the Naval Academy in Varna.

The event was attended by Fleet Admiral (Ret.) Boyan Mednikarov, Captain Nikolay Danailov, part of the crew of the research vessel Sv.Sv Kiril i Metodii, Dr. Ivaylo Nachev, as well as the project leader Associate Professor Kamen Kozarev. They presented the activities of the project on Livingston Island to school students from Varna, Plovdiv and Sofia and cadets and students at the Naval Academy.