Can a 'killer' solar flare really destroy Earth? (2024)

FAQs

Can a 'killer' solar flare really destroy Earth? ›

Bottom line: Storms on the sun are natural occurrences that have happened for billions of years. They are not dangerous to our human bodies on Earth's surface, but they can affect some earthly technologies, such as power grids and satellites in orbit around Earth.

Solar flares occur frequently, but generally not with enough force to produce harmful effects on Earth. Scientists can identify three storms in the past 150 years of sufficient magnitude to cause real disruption: one in 1859, one in 1872 and one in 1921.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications.

While Earth mostly succeeded in weathering last weekend's strong solar storm, experts have warned more powerful eruptions could continue to strike until 2025.

A powerful solar storm impacted Earth in early May 2024, triggered by the highly active region AR13664. This region unleashed a series of X-class flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) directed at Earth.

They would be dangerous to unshielded astronauts, say, astronauts traveling to the moon or Mars. Large doses could be fatal. Still, solar storms and their effects are not a problem for us on Earth's surface. Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere protect our human bodies from the effects of solar flares.

If a "Carrington-sized" solar flare were to hit Earth today, it would emit X-rays and ultraviolet light, which would reach Earth's atmosphere and interfere with electronics, as well as radio and satellite signals.

In 2019, it was predicted that the solar maximum would likely occur sometime around July 2025. However, Nature does not have to conform with our predictions, and seems to be giving us the maximum earlier than expected. In fact, there's some thought that we may already be experiencing it right now.

August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse, is an upcoming celestial event that has captured the attention of astronomy enthusiasts worldwide. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth, blocking the sun's light and creating a shadow on the earth's surface.

Fortunately, humans have nothing to worry about with the solar storm watch in effect. Despite its strong magnitude, NASA emphasizes harmful radiation from solar flares “cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground.”

What damage can solar flares do to Earth? ›

In general, solar flares are nothing to worry about. So-called "killer flares" do not exist and although solar flares can significantly disrupt the technological world, they don't contain enough energy to do any lasting damage to Earth itself.

When particles from the sun strike Earth's magnetic field, we can have beautiful auroras. But rare, strong solar storms can cause electrical grids to fail, and more.

Further, the solar wind energetic particles can reduce the protecting layer of atmospheric ozone and pose a threat to life on Earth.

Luckily, Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere do a great job of protecting us from the most hazardous effects. If a CME arrives at Earth, it can produce a geomagnetic storm, which, in turn, can cause anomalies and disruptions to the modern conveniences we have come to rely on.