Solar Storm

India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has played a crucial role in helping scientists understand the unusual behaviour of the strongest solar storm in over two decades, which struck Earth in May 2024, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

What is a Solar Storm?

A solar storm is a sudden release of energy, charged particles, magnetic fields, and solar material from the Sun into the solar system. These events are driven by intense solar activity and are a key component of space weather phenomena.

Causes of Solar Storms

The Sun has a complex and tangled magnetic field. Due to the Sun’s differential rotation—where the equator rotates faster than the poles—these magnetic field lines become twisted and stressed.

When the stress becomes excessive, the magnetic field lines snap and reconnect, a process known as magnetic reconnection, releasing enormous amounts of energy and triggering solar storms.

Major Components of a Solar Storm

1. Solar Flares

A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation from the Sun.
It emits energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet rays, radio waves, and visible light.

Solar flares are the most powerful explosions in the solar system, with the largest equivalent to billions of hydrogen bombs.

2. Radiation Storms

Solar eruptions can accelerate charged particles such as protons and electrons to extremely high speeds, resulting in radiation storms.
The fastest particles can reach Earth from the Sun—about 93 million miles away—in less than 30 minutes.

3. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is a massive cloud of electrically charged plasma ejected from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.
A single CME can release billions of tonnes of solar material into space and often appears like a giant bubble bursting from the Sun.

Effects of Solar Storms on Earth

When solar storms are directed towards Earth, they can cause geomagnetic storms by disturbing Earth’s magnetic field.
These disturbances can lead to:

• Radio communication blackouts

• Satellite navigation and communication disruptions

• Power grid failures

• Spectacular auroras in polar regions

However, solar storms do not directly harm humans, as Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere provide effective protection.