When solar storms interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can create dazzling displays near the North and South Poles — better known as the aurora borealis and aurora australis, respectively.
These colorful light shows happen when charged particles slam into the upper atmosphere, exciting atoms and molecules to produce brilliant greens, reds and purples. The more intense the storm, the farther these lights can be seen from the poles.
But it’s not all breathtaking night skies. If these storms are strong enough, they can disrupt Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Solar storms can also wreak havoc on technology. Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communications and damage satellites.
In extreme cases, like the 1989 event that knocked out power in Quebec, geomagnetic storms have disrupted electrical grids. Space agencies keep a close eye on solar activity, warning us when major storms are headed our way.
