A solar storm is a sudden, intense burst of solar activity that can send huge amounts of energy and particles into space. This can disrupt the Earth’s magnetic field, causing aurorae (northern and southern lights), as well as power outages and radio blackouts. Solar storms are also known as geomagnetic storms or solar radiation storms.
The most powerful solar storm on record was the Carrington Event of 1859, which caused widespread aurorae as far south as Cuba and triggered telegraph disruptions all over Europe and North America. If a similar event were to occur today, it could cause widespread blackouts and damage electronic infrastructure on a scale that has never been seen before.
Solar storms are caused by eruptions on the Sun’s surface, known as solar flares. These release huge amounts of energy, which interact with the Earth’s magnetic field to create Aurorae Borealis (Northern Lights) or Australis (Southern Lights). The interaction also causes charged particles to be hurled towards the Earth at high speeds, resulting in a sudden increase in atmospheric ionisation. This can disrupt radio communications and cause power outages by damaging power lines and transformers.
Aurorae are one of the most beautiful natural phenomena on Earth, but they can also be dangerous. In extreme cases, they have been known to set fire to buildings and ignite flammable materials. They can also disrupt electronic equipment and injure people who are exposed to them for too long.
Solar flares are classified according to their intensity: A-class flare is the weakest type; X-class is the strongest type of flare ever recorded
Types of Flares
Below X1 Minor Routine Radio Blackout M-Class Major Wide area blackout of HF Radio communication X-Class Extreme Widespread blackout w/ possibility for electrical grid damage