The solar storms These are phenomena that occur frequently on the sun every so often. They are usually periodic and can negatively affect our planet. They are determined by scientists and are difficult to calculate. Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you everything you need to know about solar storms, their origin and possible consequences, as well as... the implications of solar minimum.
What are solar storms
Solar storms are phenomena that occur due to solar activity. Although this star is far from our planet, the sun and its activities interfere with the earth's magnetic field. There are many people who believe that solar storms will not cause real damage, although in some cases it has been proven that they can. These phenomena are the result of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These volcanic eruptions they produce solar wind and particle explosions that spread towards our planet.
Once it enters the Earth's magnetic field, it will produce a geomagnetic storm that will last for several days. In solar storms, we have magnetic activity on the surface of the sun, which causes sun spots. If these sunspots are large, they will cause solar flames. All of these activities are usually fraught with asthma from the sun. When this plasma is ejected, the second phenomenon known as coronal mass ejections occurs.
Due to the distance between the earth and the sun, it usually takes about 3 days for the particles to arrive. This is one of the reasons you can see the Northern Lights. The sun has an 11-year cycle, and scientists believe the largest peak in solar activity was in 2013. One of the worst solar storms on record occurred in 1859 and is famous for the Carrington Event. This solar storm caused severe electromagnetic disturbances on Earth, and more details about that time can be found in the analysis of What would happen if a solar storm hit the Earth?The Northern Lights can be seen in places that cannot normally be listed. There are also significant problems with electromagnetic equipment, as we will see in geomagnetic storms.
Other milder solar storms occurred in 1958, 1989, and 2000. The storm's impact was small, but there was a power outage and damage to the satellite. To understand the solar storms and their consequences, it is essential to recognize its periodicity and effects on modern technology.
Origin
Solar storms consist of violent explosions of plasma and charged particles, called flares and, more importantly, coronal mass ejections. When the solar cycle reaches its maximum activity, a solar storm occurs. That is, when the magnetic activity of the sun becomes stronger and begins to decline. Coronal mass ejections usually occur after electrocautery, But it's not always like this. There is a maximum solar activity every 11 years. The last time started in late 2012 and lasted until 2013.
The sun's magnetic activity causes a plasma ring to form on its surface. When this magnetic activity is strongest, many rings collide with each other, causing a massive plasma explosion. These reach temperatures of tens of millions of degrees, which can be comparable to those experienced on extreme solar flaresTo better understand the impact of this activity, you can read about space hurricanes and its effects on the planet.
Possible consequences
If this phenomenon is large, it can interrupt the electricity on earth. One of the most serious effects it can have is that it will wipe out electricity around the world. All wiring must be changed to turn back on. It also seriously affects communications and satellites. We cannot deny that humanity is primarily based on satellites. Today we use satellites for everything. However, solar storms can destroy or render satellites inoperable. For more information on how these phenomena occur, we suggest you consult the magnetic field protection.
Furthermore, the effects of solar storms can be devastating to Earth's infrastructure. They can also affect astronauts conducting various studies in space. Solar storms release a lot of radiation. Radiation is harmful to our health. It can cause cancer and problems for offspring. The problem with radiation is its exposure and quantity. Due to electrical and electronic products, everyone is more or less exposed to a certain amount of radiation. However, anyone who has been exposed to large amounts of radiation for a long time is more likely to develop some of these diseases. To understand how this affects health, it is recommended to read about radiation on the Earth's surface.
Many animals are sensitive to changes in Earth's magnetic field, so solar storms can disorient them. Birds and other animals that migrate guided by the Earth's magnetic field can lose their way or even die, endangering the survival of the species. If you want to know more about how these phenomena affect ecosystems, check out our article on the northern lights.
Another risk of this phenomenon is that it could leave the entire country without electricity for months. This will cause serious damage to the state's economy, and it may take several years to return to current levels. We have become so dependent on technology that our entire economy revolves around it, as mentioned in the analysis. the consequences of changes in the magnetic field.
Solar storm damage to Earth
Now that we have seen solar storms that can disrupt communications and power grids and cause power outages, it can be said that today we have run into a storm similar to the one that occurred in 1859, and life will be completely paralyzed. During Storm Carrington, the Northern Lights were recorded in Cuba and Honolulu, while the southern aurora appeared in Santiago de Chile.
It is said that the light of dawn is so great that you can only read the newspaper in the light of dawn. Although many reports of Storm Carrington are still curious, if something like this happens today, the high-tech infrastructure may come to a standstill. As we mentioned before, human beings have completely relied on technology. Our economy is closely related to it. If technology stops working, the economy will stagnate. To understand what the warning bell might sound for such events, check out how it relates to solar storms.
Some experts claim that electrical interference as strong as damaging telegraph equipment will now be even more dangerous. Solar storms are divided into three stages, but not all stages need to occur in a storm. The first is the appearance of solar flares. This is where X-rays and ultraviolet rays ionize the upper atmosphere. This is how interference occurs in radio communications.
Radiation storms are late and can be very dangerous for astronauts in space. Finally, the third stage is a stage in which the quality of the corona can be selected, which is a cloud of charged particles, which can take several days to reach the earth's atmosphere. When I hit the atmosphere all the sun's particles will interact with the earth's magnetic field. This causes strong electromagnetic fluctuations. There is a concern about the consequences that it would have on GPS, on present telephones, airplanes and automobiles.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about solar storms and their characteristics.