58. Solar Storms

Solar storms are extraordinary and perilous events, occurring when eruptions on the Sun send powerful bursts of material throughout the solar system. They impact everything in their path, including planets, moons, and asteroids. Today, we’ll explore the key questions: What are solar storms made of? Why do they happen? And how do we protect ourselves?

Solar storms are massive explosions of various materials — particles, energy, you name it. Tiny amounts of just about everything are blasted out in all directions. These phenomena can be extremely hazardous to our modern world, as many technological devices would cease to function. This is because the high-voltage particles could cause transformers to overheat and melt. However, there’s a reason they don’t affect us very often...

The Magnetic Field is a protective ring around Earth that originates from the poles. It plays a crucial role in shielding life on our planet. When something like a solar flare heads our way, the magnetic field absorbs the UV radiation, particles, and energy, storing them above the poles. When it accumulates too much energy, it releases it as what we call an aurora. During a solar storm, the field is overwhelmed and constantly releasing energy, which is why auroras are so frequent and vivid during such events.

There are several types of solar storms, commonly classified as solar flares, radiation storms, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Solar Flares:

Solar flares appear as enormous loops of energy, and you can often see them erupting from the Sun’s surface. These intense flares result from the Sun's chaotic magnetic field, which can become twisted and tangled. When the tension is released, it produces a burst of magnetic energy and radiation.

Radiation Storms:

A radiation storm involves a surge of magnetically charged particles traveling through space at incredible speeds. The fastest particles can reach Earth in just 30 minutes, traveling at about 296,000 km/h! Their effects are similar to those of other solar storms, disrupting satellites, communication systems, and power grids.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

A CME is an immense release of solar material — often occurring after a solar flare — that hurls billions of tons of charged particles into space. These ejections can span millions of kilometers before dispersing. The energy involved is staggering.

The most intense geomagnetic storm recorded was the Carrington Event of 1859. During this event, auroras were observed worldwide, even near the equator. It was so powerful that telegraph stations caught fire from the induced currents.

Other significant events include:

• New York Railroad Storm: May 1921

• 1940 Superstorm: March 1940

• Solar Storms of ’72: August 1972

• Quebec Blackout: March 1989

Space weather is notoriously unpredictable. However, you can make more informed guesses by checking the latest news and monitoring sunspot activity. Sunspots are a strong indicator of increased solar activity, which can heighten the likelihood of solar storms and flares.

I hope you enjoyed learning about solar storms! Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel and podcast for more space-related content — available on the podcast page of this website.

Until Next Time, Give Me Space!

Henry