“Something is somehow bad for me today … Probably, magnetic storms” – we all heard something similar more than once in everyday life from relatives, acquaintances or even bystanders. But if such a phrase was not uttered by pilots or passengers of aircraft and not by astronauts, then the reason for the poor health of people was definitely something else. In this material, concisely and without unnecessary abstruse words, we understand what magnetic storms are and what effect they really have.
Magnetic storms happen because of the sun
The sun is constantly throwing gases and electrically charged particles into space at an average speed of 450 kilometers per second – this phenomenon is called the solar wind. It is not too terrible for the Earth, since our planet is protected by a magnetic field and a gaseous shell, that is, the atmosphere. Together, they protect against most of the wave of the solar wind – charged particles emitted by the Sun crash into the Earth’s “shield”, flattening the side of the magnetic field facing them and lengthening the opposite.
💡 Interesting: sometimes the solar wind breaks through the protective shell of the Earth and enters the atmosphere. When this happens, people see the aurora.
It happens that the solar wind becomes much stronger than usual due to solar flares – they are often accompanied by the release into space of a huge amount of energy (coronal mass), flying at the speed of light. When it reaches the Earth, the magnetic field begins to fluctuate strongly – this phenomenon is called a magnetic storm. It usually lasts from several hours to days.
Magnetic storms do not affect people. Those on earth
By themselves, magnetic storms do not affect human health in any way – evolution has made people extremely suitable for life on Earth. However, the electromagnetic radiation of solar energy, which causes magnetic storms, can have an effect.
There are weak points in the protective shell of the Earth – they are located at the poles, since the lines of the magnetic field go from one pole to another. Because of this, the crew of aircraft flying near these vulnerabilities during magnetic storms can be affected by a certain amount of radiation – but so insignificant that it does not pose any danger either to constantly flying pilots, or to pregnant women, or even to their embryos. at the most sensitive times of development. Astronauts are also at risk, but the crew of the International Space Station is not in immediate danger due to the fact that their missions are in relatively low orbit. However, radiation can be dangerous for astronauts during flights to the Moon or Mars, since there is no Earth’s atmosphere there, and the Earth’s magnetic field is much weaker at high altitudes.
💡 Interesting: some animals, such as sea turtles and salmon, are able to sense the Earth’s magnetic field (probably not consciously). In addition, some owners of racing pigeons learn the forecast of space weather (the influence of the Sun on the Earth) before releasing them into the wild. This is due to the fact that for most of their journey, upon returning home from a random point on the planet, pigeons are guided by a magnetic field – if it is distorted, birds can get lost. One such case occurred in 2021, when thousands of pigeons were lost during magnetic storms.
But magnetic storms affect technology, and strongly
Rapid changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, that is, magnetic storms, will certainly affect the technological infrastructure of the planet and its orbit.
- The ionosphere (the upper part of the atmosphere, saturated with ions and free electrons) is expanding, which increases the resistance of the atmosphere – making it difficult to control the orbits of satellites. Long-range radio communications (based on sub-ionospheric reflection) may not be possible, and GPS may also be affected.
- A static electric charge accumulates – satellite electronics may be damaged.
- Although changes in magnetic current are generated by currents in space, it can also affect the surface of the Earth in the form of power surges in electrical networks, leading to power outages.
The most famous case of the impact of magnetic storms on the lives of ordinary people occurred in 1989 – then high currents in the magnetosphere caused high currents in power lines, and this led to the burnout of electrical transformers and power plants in Quebec (a developed city in Canada).
💡 Interesting: every year the risk of destructive magnetic storms is increasing as humanity becomes increasingly dependent on systems that are affected by current and energy particles high in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The article was written based on Cuprum materials.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
