Solar X-rays: Geomagnetic Field:

From maj.com

Normal: Solar X-ray flux is quiet (< 1.00e-6 W/m^2

Active: Solar X-ray flux is active (>= 1.00e-6 W/m^2)

M Class Flare: An M Class flare has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-5 W/m^2)

X Class Flare: An X Class flare has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-4 W/m^2)

Mega Flare: An unprecedented X-ray event has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-3 W/m^2)

Quiet: the Geomagnetic Field is quiet (Kp < 4)

Active: the Geomagnetic Field has been unsettled (Kp=4)

Storm: A Geomagnetic Storm has occurred (Kp>4)

SOLAR STORMS

This four frame image actually shows a solar eruption that occurred on April 7 1997. Fortunately for Earth's inhabitants, simply by chance the magnetic polarity of the coronal mass ejection which was equal to a million 100 megaton bombs was the same as Earth's own magnetic field and thus was repelled away from the Earth's surface, just like two magnets repel each other when the same poles are forced together. Next time though, we may not be so lucky.

This image from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory shows the glow of a solar flare erupting from the sun as well as the tracks created by high-energy protons blasting the camera.

Researchers have forcasted that the Sun is about to enter the most violent and disruptive part of its eleven year cycle which will begin in March 2000.

It's like the worst nuclear war imaginable !

Coronal mass ejections sometimes called solar flares are massive explosions which take place on the sun's surface. As mentioned, these explosions can equal a million 100 megaton bombs. During a nuclear detonation a big concern for the military is an effect known as EMP or Electro Magnetic Pulse, an EMP has the capability of actually inducing a current into a conductor and generating high voltages which can destroy electronic equipment. And for that reason many pieces of military equipment are hardened against such a pulse. The problem we're facing with a solar flair is that the amount of energy can be a million times more powerful !

"The explosion in technology is intersecting with an extremely disturbed space environment," said JoAnn Joselyn of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "There is much higher risk now because we depend more on technology that is vulnerable."

Satellites at risk !

Jocelyn said the energy bursts from the sun can cause an electrical charge to build up on the surface of satellites, triggering phantom signals. In an earlier solar cycle, she said, small rocket thrusters on a satellite suddenly started firing, setting the spacecraft out of position. Control of another satellite was lost when its gyroscopes were disrupted.

Jocelyn said cellular telephones are susceptible because they may use the ionosphere, the region of electrically charged gases in the upper atmosphere, to send signals, and bursts from the sun can disturb the ionosphere. Some cellular phones depend on satellites which also at risk.

Solar flares can also cause warm air to surge up from the earth, which can drag some satellites into lower orbits, forcing satellite operators to use rocket fuel to reposition the spacecraft.

Many ships and aircraft rely heavily on global positioning satellite systems which use satellites that can be drastically affected by solar storms. Many airplanes are now using GPS to actually land.

The power grid at risk !

Eleven years ago just such a pulse struck the earth and completely knocked out the Canadian as well as parts of North America's electrical grid, leaving more than 8 million people without power for days !

Electromagnetic energy from the sun can send huge waves of electrical energy surging along power lines shorting circuits and burning out equipment. The 1989 solar storm actually caused the coils in a transformer station in Salem, New Jersey to melt and catch fire causing a regional blackout.