In recent years, our skies have been adorned with a mesmerizing display of nature's light show, the aurora borealis, captivating observers worldwide. Especially this year, with the largest record-breaking number of more than 500 aurora borealis lighting up our skies across the globe in 20 years, including the southern regions, the high frequency of northern lights is a conspicuous event.
However, these awe-inspiring spectacles also serve as visible warnings of an approaching natural phenomenon known as a solar storm. These storms, with their potential to significantly impact our planet and its technological infrastructure, are not to be taken lightly. In this article, we delve into the intriguing world of solar storms, exploring their origins, characteristics, and potential consequences for our modern way of life.
How does a solar storm work?
In order for the planets to feel warm within our solar system, our massive star, the sun, composed of plasma and electrically charged hot gas, requires its gravitational force to compact the hydrogen in its core. The gravitational pressure results in a constant nuclear fusion reaction, accumulating energy and causing the sun's core to reach temperatures of around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius).
However, this energy accumulation experiences periodic fluctuations due to the sun’s solar cycle. During the solar cycle, the sun’s magnetic field completely flips from north to south, generating sudden ejections of plasma and energy from the sun’s surface, known as solar flares. Solar flares often occur near sunspots, the dark areas on the sun’s surface that contain constantly shifting strong magnetic fields. The interaction of these magnetic fields can cause sudden releases of energy, resulting in the eruption of plasma and the emission of intense heat, light, and radiation.
The number of sunspots on the surface of the Sun increases and decreases in approximately 11 to 12-year solar cycles. As shown in the image above, we’re currently in our 25th solar cycle since space agencies began tracking the sun in 1755.
Are there reasons to worry?
Solar flares are known to cause:
Radiation storms in the upper atmosphere
Loss of radio communication signals
Increased explosions
Widespread disruptions in mobile phone services
They also are able to greatly cause horrendous consequences on human health, including:
Changes in blood circulation
Irregular heartbeats
Heart-related conditions
Epileptic episodes
Elevated blood pressure
Higher risk of heart attack-related fatalities
Even so, the real impact of solar storms on Earth is beyond the scale of our comprehension. For more insights, click the view here.
Works Cited
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Dobrijevic, D. (2022b). Solar flares: What are they and how do they affect Earth? [online] Space.com. Available at: https://www.space.com/solar-flares-effects-classification-formation [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
NASA (n.d.). The Sun - NASA. [online] NASA. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/sun/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
NASA (2015). What Is the Solar Cycle? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids. [online] Nasa.gov. Available at: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-cycles/en/ [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2015). 2.3 Sunspots & The Solar Cycle. [online] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Available at: https://training.weather.gov/nwstc/spacewx/wmo/lesson2/solarcycle.html [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
Sistek, S. (2021). What is the 11-year solar cycle? [online] FOX Weather. Available at: https://www.foxweather.com/learn/what-is-the-11-year-solar-cycle [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
Stahl, A. (2024). Should you be worried about solar storms? [online] The Planetary Society. Available at: https://www.planetary.org/articles/should-you-be-worried-about-solar-storms [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Weather Service (2019). The Sun and Sunspots. [online] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Available at: https://www.weather.gov/fsd/sunspots [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
What If (2024). What If a Solar Storm Hit Earth in 2024? [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0TG-tMOHx8&t=182s&ab_channel=WhatIf [Accessed 17 Jun. 2024].
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