In recent months we have come across a lot of information about Sunspots or flares that are directed towards the Earth and that can affect our planet in different ways. But, could a solar storm destroy it?
Many questions arise around these solar phenomena, such as what happens to the uncontrolled radiation and the billions of tons of charged solar matter, or what happens if the Earth receives the impact of a flare.
As the report on the website of Live Sciencethe answers can be complicated, but most scientists who have done research on sunspots, storms, and solar flares come to the same conclusion.
Could the Earth be destroyed by a solar storm?
Experts assure that the planet’s magnetic field and insulating atmosphere keep us extremely well protectedeven from the most powerful solar flares.
Normally, solar phenomena endanger satellites and communication systems such as radarsbut the most damaging radiation is absorbed in the sky long before it touches human skin. The most serious thing that could happen would be a global shutdown of internet services.
Alex Young, associate director of science in the Division of Heliophysics Sciences at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, detailed: “We live on a planet with a very thick atmosphere, which stops all the harmful radiation that is produced in a solar flare.”.
“Even in the biggest events we’ve seen in the last 10,000 years, we see that the effect is not enough to damage the atmosphere in such a way that we are no longer protected”, he added.
For his part, Doug Biesecker, a researcher at the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explained: “Whatever happens, eruptions have no significant effect on us here on Earth”.
“What kind of flows would have to hit Earth to kill us? I don’t know the answer to that, but obviously, we’ve never observed a solar event large enough to have measurable effects on human health.”, he highlighted.