Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can disrupt Earth’s technology by impacting power grids, satellites, communication systems, and aviation. These events cause geomagnetic storms that induce electrical surges, interfere with satellite signals, and disrupt high-frequency radio communication. While personal electronics are less affected, large-scale infrastructure faces significant risks. Mitigation strategies include hardening power grids, shielding satellites, and improving space weather forecasting to reduce disruptions.

Source: https://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-flare-electronics.htm

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have recently experienced geomagnetic storms firsthand, offering them extraordinary views of the aurora borealis directly outside their windows. These geomagnetic storms occur when solar winds interact with Earth’s magnetic field, creating stunning auroras visible from space. For more insights into space weather and its impacts, visit NASA’s science news page.

In March 2015, NASA launched the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, comprising four spacecraft designed to study magnetic reconnection—a process where magnetic fields explosively realign, releasing vast amounts of energy. This phenomenon is pivotal in driving space weather events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can disrupt Earth’s satellites, power grids, and communication systems. The MMS mission aims to provide detailed insights into magnetic reconnection by flying in a tetrahedral formation through Earth’s magnetosphere, collecting high-resolution measurements to enhance our understanding of space weather and its potential impacts on modern technology.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/nasa-satellites-magnetospheric-magnetic-sun-solar-flare/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHSfgxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcw7rpVygFz1WKoVs2pKqGSAVFDAMWHZpUaFyrNW3wtyQCriTmKtBrQy9w_aem_Tsvh9VP9y13z16ci6TUjgg

NASA has been launching sounding rockets into the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, to study the complex interactions between solar winds and Earth’s magnetic field. These missions aim to understand how energy and particles from the sun influence our planet’s space environment, which can impact satellite communications and power grids. By deploying instruments directly into auroral events, scientists gather valuable data on the processes that drive these spectacular light displays and their broader implications for Earth’s geomagnetic systems.

Source: https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/environmental-laboratory/7/breaking_news/why_is_nasa_shooting_rockets_into_the_northern_lights/33669?fbclid=IwY2xjawHSfVRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZH-q_hhQC-M_5_2lXyT8ikgiajizi0cGIPXU14rIj88WyBldRE7uCjH6A_aem_5vlj2-iiJ13lRdp9gRcyyQ

Stanford University researchers Monica Bobra and Sebastien Couvidat have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to predict solar flares, utilizing data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The SDO captures extensive images of the sun, providing a rich dataset for analysis. By training their machine learning model on over 1,000 active solar regions, the researchers achieved an 87% accuracy rate in predicting severe solar flares, surpassing previous models that had a 67% accuracy rate. This advancement holds promise for improving space weather forecasting, which is crucial for protecting satellites, power grids, and communication systems from solar-induced disruptions.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2015-02-stanford-pair-solar-storms.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawHSe9NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQPfps2fb9SH98t1VFPTpqucK0p97r0CZQTkc13_n2N-QE1ZIT3l5xwfQA_aem_4NYLl9CxW7BhL99WL7zWZg

In 1859, the Carrington Event, an unprecedented geomagnetic storm, generated strong electric currents in telegraph wires, disrupting their operation. Remarkably, some telegraph systems continued to function without external power, powered solely by geomagnetically induced currents. This phenomenon demonstrated the profound impact auroral electromagnetism can have on technology, even in the 19th century.

Source: https://gizmodo.com/how-the-carrington-event-let-telegraphs-run-on-aurora-p-1686759750?fbclid=IwY2xjawHSevZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQPfps2fb9SH98t1VFPTpqucK0p97r0CZQTkc13_n2N-QE1ZIT3l5xwfQA_aem_4NYLl9CxW7BhL99WL7zWZg

The U.S. electric grid faces significant risks from natural disasters, cyberattacks, and geomagnetic disturbances caused by solar storms. Solar events can damage transformers, while cyberattacks exploit digital vulnerabilities, threatening public safety and the economy. Mitigation strategies include investing in resilient infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, implementing advanced monitoring, and improving emergency preparedness. Collaborative efforts between government and industry are essential to safeguard the grid.

Source: https://www.sourcesecurity.com/insights/16551.html

In late December 2014, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory detected a substantial coronal hole near the Sun’s south pole. Coronal holes are regions where the Sun’s magnetic field opens into space, allowing solar wind to escape at high velocities. This particular hole resulted in solar winds streaming out at speeds up to 500 miles per second (approximately 800 kilometers per second). Such high-speed solar winds can interact with Earth’s magnetosphere, potentially causing geomagnetic storms that may disrupt satellite communications and power grids.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2894840/Mystery-sun-s-south-pole-Nasa-reveals-huge-coronal-hole-solar-surface-winds-jet-500-miles-SECOND.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawHQFOBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWSV3qlcGXQbntGfLY125FAv42rwO4kty-oyGM_QoX31SSCrExx2gjemKg_aem_h4DbKMwOZSZguuj0GQjUZQ

On December 19, 2014, the Sun emitted an X1.8-class solar flare, peaking at 7:24 p.m. EST. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured stunning images of this powerful radiation burst. While such flares do not directly harm humans on Earth, their intensity can disrupt GPS and communication signals in the atmosphere’s upper layers. For real-time updates and impacts, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center provides forecasts and alerts.

In April 2014, a red dwarf star within the binary system DG Canum Venaticorum (DG CVn), located approximately 60 light-years away, exhibited a series of powerful superflares. These eruptions were up to 10,000 times more energetic than the largest solar flare ever recorded from our Sun. The star’s rapid rotation, completing a full turn in less than a day, is believed to contribute to its intense magnetic activity, leading to such massive flares. This observation challenges previous assumptions that major flaring episodes from red dwarfs lasted no more than a day, as Swift detected at least seven powerful eruptions over about two weeks.

Foom! ‘Superflares’ Erupt From Tiny Red Dwarf Star, Surprising Scientists