If a major solar storm (solar-flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ? 1. GPS and navigation systems could f

1. A. 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
2. B. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
3. C. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Answer: C

Explanation

Solar flares occur when magnetic energy builds up in the solar atmosphere and is released suddenly. These outbursts are intrinsically linked to the solar cycle — an approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity driven by the sun’s magnetic field. These are large explosions from the surface of the sun that emit intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation. According to NASA, harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground. The solar flares, even the intense ones, do not pose an immediate threat to us, at least those who are within the Earth’s atmosphere. Flares are not fires but outbursts of electromagnetic radiation. Thus they will not cause forest fires. Hence statement 5 is not correct. Tsunami is a purely seismic phenomenon. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including detonations, landslides, glacier calvings, meteorite impacts and other disturbances) above or below water all have the potential to generate a tsunami and not solar flares. Hence statement 2 is not correct. By elimination technique, one can easily reach option (c). Hence option (c) is the correct answer. Strong M-class and X-class solar flares and can trigger coronal mass ejections — a large release of plasma and magnetic field from the sun. This behavior can disrupt Earth’s magnetosphere and result in geomagnetic storms. Such geomagnetic storms can lead to auroras closer to the equator than is possible during calm conditions. Hence statement 4 is correct. Known as a coronal mass ejection or CME these solar explosions propel bursts of particles and electromagnetic fluctuations into Earth’s atmosphere. Those fluctuations could induce electric fluctuations at ground level that could blow out transformers in power grids. A CME’s particles can also collide with crucial electronics onboard a satellite and disrupt its systems. The following impacts were predicted in April 2022 owing to the huge solar flares over South Asia and India. Expected high-frequency communication blackouts, satellite anomalies, GPS scintillations, airline communication impacts.