Subspace disruption

A subspace distortion, also called a subspace disturbance or subspace deformation, is a warp in the fabric of space.

Subspace distortions can be caused by spacecraft utilizing warp drive, or by other more naturally-occuring phenomenon.

• A "cochrane" is the mathematical unit for measuring subspace distortion, named after Zefram Cochrane, the inventor of warp drive on Earth.
• Phase fluctuations in subspace fields are known as "cochrane distortions."

Examples:

• In 2154, Travis Mayweather detected a massive subspace distortion caused by twelve Vulcan cruisers, sent to launch an invasion of Andoria.

• In 2368, a series of quantum filaments caused subspace distortions, which left the Enterprise-D powerless and drifting in space.

• In 2372, Chief O'Brien detected a large subspace disturbance when the cloaked Klingon task force set course for Cardassia Prime.