SafeEarth – Natural and Humanmade Risks and Societies’ Responses

Much of our daily lives rely on the availability of electricity and positioning systems. Solar-originating natural hazards can disturb our activities through satellite malfunctions, communication and power blackouts, navigation challenges, and radiation effects on humans.

The Earth’s magnetic field – the magnetosphere – plays a crucial role in the planet’s habitability and makes it possible to sustain our high-tech existence by protecting us from the bombardment of energetic particles and radiation bursts (solar storms) from the Sun. Our planet is further struck by 100 lightning bolts every second, and some 40 000 kg of debris in the form of meteorites and cosmic dust daily.

In Safe Earth, we are studying near-Earth phenomena and how solar storms with sudden energy releases and particle bursts create natural hazards.

Comprehensive security is about promoting security and preparedness against different kinds of threats and safeguarding the vital functions of society. Language use, communication and information practices are key aspects of comprehensive security. For example, clear and timely language use (e.g., in media, instructions, guidelines, training and at work) is an important tool for building, maintaining and enhancing safety and security. It is important when preparing for threats, collaborating during crises and tackling dis- and misinformation.

Furthermore, in the current politically unstable environment, sharing timely, accurate and reliable information becomes more important than ever. In SafeEarth we study how language, communication and information practices enable protective actions. Robust information practices that are resilient to this hostile environment bring a sense of security, solve miscommunication problems, reinforce democracy and rebuild a bond of trust in Finland and worldwide.

Cyberattacks against high-tech systems and critical infrastructures are happening on a daily basis. Both criminal and state-based threats to our digital infrastructure are increasingly harassing our society. There is a constant demand for new capabilities and practices from states, organizations and individuals to predict, prepare, mitigate and respond to such risks.

In Safe Earth we are investigating, how the effects of humanmade attacks, especially in the cyberspace, can be minimized. The risk analysis targets include modern and disruptive technologies such as AI, 6G and quantum computing.

• Eija Tanskanen, Director of Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory

• Kimmo Halunen, Professor, cyber security

• Anita Aikio, Professor, near Earth space

• Pentti Haddington, Professor, languages and interaction analysis

• Juha Röning, Professor, embedded systems