Written by Reananda Hidayat PermonoCompleted Master of Science - MS, Petroleum Geology from Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Solar flare produces a large amount of electromagnetic radiation from the sun, which will travel toward outer space at the speed of light.
Hence, it could also affect the sunlit side of Earth almost at the same time the solar flare occurs.
The sun is currently in the rising phase of Solar Cycle 25, which will reach its highest stage in 2025.
The last solar maximum phase occurred in 2014.
Here are some FAQs about solar flares that you need to know.
How likely is a solar flare to hit Earth? An Indian researcher has calculated the possibility of a robust solar storm causing catastrophic disruption to Earth within the next decade is around 1.6 - 12%.
Will there ever be no sun? Stars have limited lifetimes, including the sun, but no need to worry since that moment is billions of years away.
Can solar flares cause headaches? Solar flares can cause geomagnetic storms that disturb Earth’s magnetic field and trigger primary headaches.
Should we worry about solar flares? Solar flares can interfere with human life by increasing radiation exposure and damaging power grids.
What protects us from solar storms? Earth’s atmosphere, including the magnetosphere, is the primary protector of Earth from charged solar particles and cosmic rays.
But sometimes, a small amount of the particle could still reach the Earth’s surface.