Svyatoslav Litvinov, associate professor in the Department of Wireless Electronic Systems and Assemblies at the Russian Technical University, points out that solar activity is an astronomical phenomenon that affects the operation of ground equipment.
The expert explains that solar flares and the resulting geomagnetic storms can severely disrupt the operation of many systems, such as power grids and household appliances. This is because charged particles ejected by the sun into space interact with Earth's magnetic field, generating induced electrical currents in conductors. Power transmission lines are particularly vulnerable to this effect, as induced currents can overload high-voltage transformers, potentially causing them to fail and resulting in power outages. In such a scenario, ordinary citizens may experience disruptions to various appliances, including refrigerators, heating systems, communication equipment, and lighting.
The expert also points out that solar storms affect communications. The X-rays emitted by solar flares increase the ionization of the ionosphere, which impedes the propagation of radio waves. This can lead to disruptions in terrestrial television and radio broadcasts, deterioration of mobile phone service, and even outages of satellite internet. Systems that rely on wireless control, such as smart home technologies, may lose control of lighting, air conditioning, ventilation, and other connected devices.
The expert emphasizes that the scenario of power and communications outages resulting from a powerful solar storm is not mere speculation, but has a physical basis. Therefore, modern power and communications systems are designed with these risks in mind. Individuals may experience temporary disruptions to their electricity, communications, and other electronic services.
He adds that these events shouldn't come as a surprise to scientists, as continuous monitoring of solar activity allows them to track large flares that might be headed toward Earth. Although visible light, X-rays, and radio waves reach Earth in about 8 minutes and 20 seconds, their impact on Earth's magnetic field is minimal, unlike plasma clouds and streams of charged particles, which take several days to arrive. This gives specialists an opportunity to assess the event's strength and prepare for its arrival. Ultimately, the extent of the impact depends on the intensity of the storm and the level of preparedness of engineering systems to withstand such challenges.
