The influence that the sun has on Earth and the rest of the planets is enormous, so much so that literally everything revolves around it. A endless myths and legends are associated with his name, as well as the effects it exerts on each corner of it. An example of this are the famous solar storms, an event that always haunts humanity and its day to day.
And yes, it is normal to feel uncertainty or some panic when talking about solar storms, but most are just myths without foundation. Therefore, it is necessary to properly delve into the subject to avoid falling into the jaws of misinformation, something very common these days.
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Defeat misinformation, find out what solar storms really are
Source: The Time
In the realm of the cosmos, there is a term known as solar weather, who determines the constant activity of the sun and its effect on the planets. Solar weather is sometimes intensified or kept at bay, producing more or less consequences in the cosmos as such. To define exactly what solar storms are, you must first understand that the Earth has a magnetic field.
This magnetic field or "magnetosphere" in its scientific name, is in constant interaction with the weather and solar winds, producing the famous northern lights. In effect, they are a basic or early result of the impact of the solar wind against the Earth, without generating greater complexities with it.
Now, what are solar storms? Well, they are events that, for some reason, present an intensification of solar activity in its entirety. They affect the magnetosphere and according to their magnitude, they can motivate the cause of different effects beyond an aurora borealis.
The mechanics of solar storms is the same between one and the other, varying only in strength in how they are produced. Basically, a solar eruption occurs whose shock wave in a matter of a few minutes, approximately 7 or 8, impacts the Earth's magnetic field.
This shock wave is composed of radio waves, gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation and the typical solar wind already known during this article. In turn, another noteworthy point is the ejection of the coronal mass within the shock wave on the magnetosphere. Together with the other characteristics mentioned, the main ones affected are usually radio communications or the use of radars.
Find out a little more about the effects of solar storms on Earth!
Knowing for sure what is true and what is false regarding this topic is an arduous task. However, below, we have collected a series of effects of these space phenomena on Earth scientifically proven.
Is it true that they are harmful to health?
Much is said about the premise that solar storms cause damage to people's health. It has even been mentioned that they are deadly, with alleged unquantified or unsupported evidence on people who have died from it.
Do not fall into speculation! There is no proven evidence that large-scale solar activity impairs the health of the individual. Large portals such as NASA or ESA have denied this information, based on solid arguments in this regard.
Can communications and the electrical system fail?
In general, yes, it is possible, but it depends more than anything on the strength of solar activity for it to occur. Usually, the solar wind is always in constant interaction with the Earth's magnetic field. The latter protects human activity from the effects.
Still, you should know that not everything is perfect. When the intensity of the solar wind intensifies or solar storms occur, various electrically charged particles filter through the magnetosphere.
In conclusion, these particles attack the wiring of various areas or the transformers responsible for the electrical service. In turn, they are directly responsible for the interference in telephone calls, as well as in the use of GPS.
Find out what happens to radios and radars
Just as the GPS of specialized devices for this purpose fail, so do radios and radars. As already mentioned, solar particles intervene in the normal processes of the operation of these devices.
This is because the radiation and energetic particles produce a total interference during the duration of the solar storm. They are even capable of completely rendering these devices useless for a prolonged period of time.
That is why great care must be taken with ships or aircraft and their navigation system during a solar storm. If they fail, they could face an inhospitable environment; however, today technology is ready with a plan B.
Satellites are also no strangers to impact
Source: People's Daily
Although it is believed that the main damage is received on the surface, satellites in orbit around the planet are also victims. Intense solar activity can lead to erratic behavior in the orbit that they manifest around Earth's orbit. The ionization of the outermost layers of the planet destabilizes the normal path of the satellite, making it scattered and necessary to correct in time.
Likewise, the interference caused by the solar wind and the energetic particles in its constitution, contribute to satellite malfunction. What does this mean? The satellite begins to transmit erroneous or abnormal signals, causing an imbalance in their reception.
Solar storms and earthquakes… are they related?
Regarding this point, has as much or more controversy than those mentioned above. The strong earthquake in Mexico or Japan in 2011 coincided with a time of high solar activity. This curiosity led to the United States Geological Survey, pronounce on the matter on the relationship between solar storms and earthquakes.
However, the scientific community has not established a conclusive result that gives the answer to this premise. There is only evidence that several terrestrial events or cataclysms coincide with a latency period of solar activity. However, linking solar storms and earthquakes is still too early to provide a theory that unifies the rest.