What effects do solar flares have on earth?

Solar flares shoot enormous amounts of energy (a force exceeding that of millions of hydrogen bombs) into space traveling at amazing speed, and they extends into the farthest reaches of the solar system.

Under the right situations, when the earth and sun face each other during a solar flare event, earth can be battered by massive bursts of energy via wavelength X-rays, gamma rays and magnetic disturbances, which can alter the earth's ability to protect itself from dangerous particles emitted into space.

Solar flares can affect shortwave radio communication and the natural defense (atmosphere) of the earth to protect its inhabitants from solar flares. Earth's satellites can have orbits altered by the massive energy pulses of a solar flare.

The introduction of short-wave and long-wave gamma and X-rays that are the product of solar flares can ionize the components of a planet's atmosphere leaving it less able to maintain an even enclosure around the planet in question. For earth, the atmosphere that wraps the planet is in a constant state defense against forces from within and out. Powerful solar flares can generate huge holes in the ionosphere, which can negatively affect people and equipment on earth.

The sun unleashed a massive solar storm today (June 7) in a dazzling eruption that kicked up a vast cloud of magnetic plasma....


Video: See the sun's June 7 solar flare and eruption....