{"id":507159,"date":"2025-08-19T01:45:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T23:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osr.org\/?p=507159"},"modified":"2025-08-19T02:06:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T00:06:56","slug":"what-are-solar-storms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/what-are-solar-storms\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Solar Storms?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">From 150 million kilometres away, the <a href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/astronomy-uk\/what-if-the-sun-was-a-different-kind-of-star\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sun<\/a> looks like a glowing, steady beacon of light. But behind that calm appearance lies a turbulent giant. The Sun is a constantly shifting sphere of plasma, fuelled by nuclear fusion, and subject to enormous magnetic forces. Occasionally, this activity boils over in dramatic events known as solar storms, bursts of charged particles and radiation that surge into space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar storms may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but they\u2019re very real, and their effects can be felt right here on Earth. From disrupting satellites and power grids to creating spectacular auroras, these cosmic tempests are a constant reminder of our planet\u2019s connection to its parent star.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this article, we\u2019ll take a journey into the science of solar storms, exploring what they are, how they form, their different types, their impact on Earth, and how scientists are working to predict and prepare for them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">What Is a Solar Storm?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-241109\" title=\"Solar Flare\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Solar-Flare.jpg\" alt=\"Solar Flare\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Solar-Flare.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Solar-Flare-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Solar-Flare-640x393.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A solar storm is a broad term that we use to describe the disturbances on the Sun that release enormous amounts of energy into space. These disturbances often involve bursts of electromagnetic radiation, charged particles, and plasma, all linked to the Sun\u2019s powerful and tangled magnetic fields.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At their core, solar storms are caused by the Sun\u2019s magnetic activity. The Sun rotates unevenly, with its equator spinning faster than its poles, causing its magnetic field lines to twist and sometimes snap. When they do, vast amounts of energy are unleashed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar storms can take several forms, but the three most common are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Solar flares<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Sudden, intense flashes of radiation from the Sun\u2019s surface.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Huge bubbles of plasma and magnetic fields ejected into space.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Solar energetic particles (SEPs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: High-energy particles accelerated by solar flares or CMEs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each type has its own characteristics and effects, but together they shape what we call space weather.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">What Are Solar Flares?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Imagine a flare shooting up from the Sun\u2019s surface, brighter than billions of nuclear bombs detonating at once. That\u2019s a solar flare. These powerful bursts release energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Astronomers classify solar flares into different categories, depending on their strength: A, B, C, M, and X. An X-class flare, the most powerful, can unleash energy equivalent to a billion hydrogen bombs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On Earth, solar flares can disrupt radio communications, interfere with navigation systems, and even endanger astronauts in space. The flares themselves don\u2019t usually cause auroras, but their radiation can ionise our atmosphere and cause radio blackouts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">What Are Coronal Mass Ejections?<\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/1NkQmnuCsGM?si=o92bXpBJHknpr4Kj\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"Sun Launches Spectacular Coronal Mass Ejection in 4K 60fps\" title=\"Play video &quot;Sun Launches Spectacular Coronal Mass Ejection in 4K 60fps&quot;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/1NkQmnuCsGM?si=o92bXpBJHknpr4Kj<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/1NkQmnuCsGM?si=o92bXpBJHknpr4Kj\" title=\"Sun Launches Spectacular Coronal Mass Ejection in 4K 60fps\">Sun Launches Spectacular Coronal Mass Ejection in 4K 60fps (https:\/\/youtu.be\/1NkQmnuCsGM?si=o92bXpBJHknpr4Kj)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If solar flares are sparks, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are fireballs. A CME occurs when the Sun hurls billions of tonnes of plasma and magnetic fields into space. These clouds can travel at millions of kilometres per hour, and if they collide with Earth, the results can be dramatic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When a CME hits Earth\u2019s magnetic field, it can trigger geomagnetic storms. These storms cause dazzling auroras, but they can also induce electrical currents in power grids, disrupt GPS, and damage satellites. The intensity of the geomagnetic storm depends on the size and speed of the CME and the orientation of its magnetic field.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most famous CME event (so far!) was the <a href=\"https:\/\/scijinks.gov\/what-was-the-carrington-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carrington Event<\/a> of 1859, when telegraph systems across the world sparked, shocked operators, and caught fire. If such a storm happened today, the consequences for our electricity-based civilisation could be nothing short of catastrophic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">What Are Solar Energetic Particles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar energetic particles (SEPs) are high-speed protons and electrons accelerated by solar flares or shock waves from CMEs. They race through space at nearly the speed of light and can reach Earth in under an hour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For astronauts, SEPs are particularly dangerous, because they can penetrate spacecraft shielding and damage human DNA. On Earth, our magnetic field shields us from most SEPs, but they can still interfere with satellites, aircraft communications, and polar flights.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">The Solar Cycle: Why Storms Come in Waves<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-241088\" title=\"What Are Sunspots\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/What-Are-Sunspots.jpg\" alt=\"What Are Sunspots\" width=\"758\" height=\"253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/What-Are-Sunspots.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/What-Are-Sunspots-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/What-Are-Sunspots-640x214.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar storms don\u2019t just happen randomly &#8211; they follow an 11-year solar cycle. During solar maximum, the Sun\u2019s magnetic activity peaks, producing more sunspots, flares, and CMEs. During solar minimum, the Sun is relatively calm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019re currently in Solar Cycle 25, which began in 2019 and is expected to peak around 2025 &#8211; 2026. Accordingly, scientists are currently observing increased solar activity, including strong CMEs and X-class flares.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Understanding the solar cycle helps researchers forecast when Earth might experience more frequent storms, though predicting individual events still remains a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">How Do Solar Storms Affect Earth?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-424551\" title=\"What Is a Dyson Sphere\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Harnessing-the-Sun-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Harnessing-the-Sun-2.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Harnessing-the-Sun-2-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Harnessing-the-Sun-2-640x393.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While solar storms are fascinating, they can also be disruptive. Their impact on Earth can be grouped into several categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Power Grids<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Geomagnetic storms induce electric currents in long conductors, like power lines. This can overload transformers and cause blackouts. In 1989, a solar storm caused a nine-hour power outage in Quebec, leaving millions in the dark.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Satellites and Spacecraft<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-465357\" title=\"Space Exploration and Satellites\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Space-Exploration-and-Satellites.jpg\" alt=\"Space Exploration and Satellites\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Space-Exploration-and-Satellites.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Space-Exploration-and-Satellites-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Space-Exploration-and-Satellites-640x393.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solar storms can fry satellite electronics, degrade solar panels, and throw spacecraft off course by interfering with their navigation systems. In February 2022, SpaceX lost 40 newly launched satellites after a geomagnetic storm increased atmospheric drag, causing them to burn up.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Communications<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Radio signals, especially those relying on high-frequency waves, can be disrupted by solar activity. GPS signals can also become less reliable, impacting aviation, shipping, and even everyday navigation apps.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Aviation and Human Health<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Airlines reroute flights over polar regions during strong storms to protect passengers and crew from increased radiation. Astronauts outside Earth\u2019s protective magnetic field face even greater risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Could a Solar Storm Knock Out the Internet?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most talked-about scenarios is a massive solar storm taking down the global internet. Studies suggest that while local disruptions are likely, especially to satellites and undersea cables, a complete internet blackout is unlikely. Still, experts warn that preparation is crucial, since our modern society is ever more dependent on electronics and connectivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">The Beautiful Side: Auroras<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-233944\" title=\"northern-lights-3847784_1920\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/northern-lights-3847784_1920.jpg\" alt=\"The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis take their names from ancient Greek myths.\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/northern-lights-3847784_1920.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/northern-lights-3847784_1920-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/northern-lights-3847784_1920-640x393.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not all effects are harmful! Solar storms create one of nature\u2019s most breathtaking displays: the <a href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/astronomy-uk\/what-are-auroras\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights)<\/a>. These occur when charged particles collide with Earth\u2019s atmosphere, causing it to glow in shades of green, red, and purple.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Can We Predict Solar Storms?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Predicting solar storms is like forecasting the weather, only much, much harder! NASA, ESA, and other space agencies monitor the Sun with spacecraft like the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These satellites track sunspots, flares, and CMEs, giving scientists a few hours to a few days\u2019 warning. However, predicting a storm\u2019s exact strength and impact remains difficult, especially since the orientation of a CME\u2019s magnetic field determines how strongly it will interact with Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New missions, like NASA\u2019s Parker Solar Probe and ESA\u2019s Solar Orbiter, are getting closer to the Sun than ever before, helping unlock the mysteries of its magnetic fields and activity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Preparing for Solar Storms<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thankfully, governments and industries are starting to take solar storm risks more seriously. Steps include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hardening power grids<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> against geomagnetic currents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Improving satellite shielding<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and creating backup systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Developing early-warning systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to give airlines and industries time to prepare.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Encouraging international cooperation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, since solar storms don\u2019t respect borders.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For solar-conscious individuals, preparation might be as simple as keeping emergency supplies handy during extreme events &#8211; and enjoying the auroras if they appear!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf\">Make the Cosmos Personal<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-461336\" title=\"OSR Super Star Gift\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/OSR-Super-Star-Gift.jpg\" alt=\"OSR Super Star Gift\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/OSR-Super-Star-Gift.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/OSR-Super-Star-Gift-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/OSR-Super-Star-Gift-640x393.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re fascinated by the power of the Sun and the mysteries of the night sky, why not make the stars part of your own story? With the Online Star Register, you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#main-tabs\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">name a star<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for someone special, creating a personalised connection to the cosmos. It\u2019s a unique gift that brings the wonder of astronomy a little closer to home!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a class=\"button button-orange medium arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#main-tabs\">Name a Star with the OSR<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From 150 million kilometres away, the Sun looks like a glowing, steady beacon of light. But behind that calm appearance lies a turbulent giant. The Sun is a constantly shifting sphere of plasma, fuelled by nuclear fusion, and subject to enormous magnetic forces. Occasionally, this activity boils over in dramatic events known as solar storms, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1297],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-507159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-osrguide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Are Solar Storms? - Online Star Register<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What are solar storms? Learn all about how they form, and their impact on Earth\u2019s technology and daily life with our in-depth guide!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/what-are-solar-storms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Are Solar Storms? - Online Star Register\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What are solar storms? 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