At this writing (January 24, 2012), the sun is in an active part of its 11-year cycle of activity. Many dark sunspots are visible to those using telescopes and solar filters. Space observatories are detecting brilliant solar flares – intense bursts of radiation and our solar system’s largest explosive events – lasting minutes to hours on the sun’s surface. Occasional, powerful coronal mass ejections, or CMEs – giant bubbles of gas and magnetic fields from the sun, containing up to a billion tons of charged particles that can travel up to several million miles per hour – are sometimes released into the interplanetary medium. This solar material streams out through space, and sometimes strikes Earth. Is this dangerous? Should we be worried?
Strongest solar radiation storm in 7 years expected January 24
A solar flare as observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on January 23, 2012. Image Credit: SDO
Click here to expand image above
The answer is no. These solar storms are awesome to contemplate, but they are not dangerous to us on Earth’s surface.
What is the danger of a solar storm in space? Very high-energy particles, such as those carried by CMEs, can cause radiation poisoning to humans and other mammals. They would be dangerous to unshielded astronauts, say, astronauts traveling to the moon. Large doses could be fatal.
But, for us on Earth’s surface, solar storms aren’t dangerous because we’re protected by Earth’s blanket of atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere allow adequate protection at ground level.
An illustration of Earth's magnetic field shielding our planet from solar particles. Credit: NASA/GSFC/SVS
Click here to expand image above
On the other hand … solar storms are dangerous to our technology. When a coronal mass ejection, or CME, strikes Earth’s atmosphere, it causes a temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field. The solar storm causes a geomagnetic storm.
The most powerful solar storms send their coronal mass ejections, containing charged particles, into space. As the charged particles slam into Earth’s atmosphere, they can disrupt satellites and bathe high-flying airplanes with radiation. They can disrupt telecommunications and navigation systems. They have the potential to black out entire cities.
But, when a solar storm occurs, it takes several days for the charged particles to reach Earth. When a big coronal mass ejection is on its way, satellites can briefly shut their systems off. Earth-based power grids can be reconfigured to provide extra grounding. And so on.
A solar prominence is vast and awesome in size in contrast to our little Earth. But the Earth is so far from the sun that these prominences pose no danger. Image via NASA
Click here to expand image above
The current solar cycle – called Sunspot Cycle 24 by space physicists – is expected to peak in February 2013, according to NASA. The number of storms on the sun was high in late 2011 and is still high at this writing (early 2012). Still, according to current predictions, this sunspot cycle is the smallest in over 80 years.
There’s every reason to believe that storms on the sun have been happening for billions of years, since the sun and Earth came to be. If that’s so, then all life on Earth evolved under their influence. So as we approach another peak in activity, the sun isn’t doing anything it hasn’t done many millions of times before. The difference is that now we have technology that can be affected by the sun’s activity.
Bottom line: Storms on the sun are a natural occurrence. They are not dangerous to humans on Earth’s surface. They have been happening for billions of years.
Ok, well now I’m scared to get on my flight to Boston next Tuesday, and then to LA on the 27th. When you say that radiation covers an airplane, what does that do exactly? And is it dangerous to the passengers? Like the whole airplane-goes-down-in-flames kind of thing? Or is it something that no one would be aware of? I’m already afraid of airplanes, so this really kind of makes me feel worse.
Kate, don’t feel afraid. Planes are flying every day, every hour, every minute and not crashing. I’m sure you’ll be fine.
Have a good trip!
EarthSky
@ Kate:
If you’re in an airplane at 35,000 ft. when a large CME strikes the atmosphere, then there is a good chance that you and your fellow passengers would be exposed to dangerous amounts of radiation. Whether this would be immediately apparent to you or not would depend on the amount of exposure.
Is it possible a solar storm can hit the world and the human will suffer (seems inpossible in all fact but i know some ppl who watch to much 2012 hoax and they are scared i wanna let them feel good and go on with life)
Thanks.
Solar storms have been happening for billions of years – since the sun and Earth were born. We humans have been evolving for millions of years on a planet that is hit by solar storms all the time. Our atmosphere protects us. Our technology – satellites in orbit, telecommunications – are vulnerable to solar storms. We humans will be fine.
I think the question is more of this: are you likely to get more of a sunburn and get hit with more UVA and UVB when outside when the solar flare hits Earth…like this morning?
Obviously the human damage won’t be detectable…anymore than if you got the equivalent of 100 xrays because your airplane hit one of the electro-magnetic storms that sometimes happen in the clouds.
Hello, I am not trying to be rude but you are acting like a baby, there is nothing to be scared off, we are all protected and safe but try not to go on your phone or computer or any technology.
So bye, be safe and 2012 will not happen.
Im sure WE as a species wont be too effected physically by a solar flare, but what about our MASIVE electrical infrastructure. the last time we had a Big solar storm, the most advanced electrically tech we had was the telegraph. we didn’t have jet liners back then either. thats my thought.
wow fantastic
The sun is very vindictive toward us, but it is very interesting to see. But we have God who protects us.
i love you guys and your comments especially GERALD. but i am sure the sun wont be against us. who knows we might even end up seeing all of the planets in the universe. HEARD OF SEDNA