Atmospheric Chemistry Assignment 2

Prepared for-
Prof. Shamik Chakraborty
Chem F430 – Atmospheric Chemistry

Prepared By-
Nikhil Agarwal (2020B2A71611P)
Taresh Bansal(2020B2A71945P)

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

March 1, 2022
 Sun storm: Effect on Earth

Introduction-
Sun storm is a disturbance which can be produced in the heliosphere of the sun.
Heliosphere refers to the outermost atmospheric layer of the sun. It affects the whole
solar system which includes the earth as well as the region of space surrounding the
astronomical object in which charged particles are present, also known as
magnetosphere. Magnetosphere is affected by the magnetic field of the sun during solar
storms [1]. Sun storms are most often caused by coronal mass ejections, commonly
known as CME. Coronal mass ejection is the release of plasma which is accompanied
by a magnetic field from the Sun’s corona (outermost layer of star which is made from
plasma) into the solar wind (the stream of charged particles which is released from the
upper atmosphere of the sun). Some other causes of sun storms are solar flares( the
eruption of electromagnetic radiation in the sun's atmosphere) from the active regions
[2][3]
. Active regions are the temporary regions which are created in the Sun’s
atmosphere and have a strong and complex magnetic field [4]. It is also caused by the
coronal holes which is a temporary region and is cool and has less dense plasma [5]. A
minor form of sun storm occurs when elevated background solar wind conditions during
the time when interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is southward and towards the earth
which is also a reason for stronger storming conditions from coronal mass ejections [6].

Current Status/ Observation-

Sun is capable of producing intense geomagnetic and energetic particles storms, which
are capable of causing severe harm to the technology, which includes large scale power
outages, blackouts and disruptions of radio communications and even the GPS. It can
even damage the submarine communication cables and lead to the permanent disabling
of satellites [7]. When the sun storms are intense, it can lead to disturbance in high
altitude aviation and human spaceflight and can be hazardous in case of high latitudes
[8].
Solar storms can sometimes look good as geomagnetic storms who are the cause of
aurora are created by sun storms. Auroras are the polar lights which are displayed in
earth’s sky and seen in high latitude regions i.e. arctic and Antarctic [9]. An event
happened in September 1859 which is one of the most significant sun storms till date
which was named as Carrington event [10]. The damage caused by a potent sun storm
can be very hazardous and threatening to human civilization but through proper
preparedness we can reduce it’s consequence [11]. In 774-775 CE one of the extreme sun
proton events happened, which caused the most rapid rise in carbon -14 levels, and it
was known as the Miyake event. Recently in February 2022, SpaceX Starlink satellites
which were in low earth orbit, failed due to mild solar particle and geomagnetic storms
[12]
. In September 2017, an event happened which was triggered by X12.9 class solar
flare [13].

Discussion-
Sun storm refers to variety of eruptions of energy and mass occurring on the surface of
the Sun. Some common phenomenon includes flares, sunspots, coronal mass ejections
etc. All these phenomena are observed at different wavelengths. All these activities
entail the abrupt release of stored magnetic energy, which accelerates heated gases near
the Sun's surface or in its corona. The particles released can sometimes travel up to the
Earth by travelling through the Sun's magnetic field into interplanetary space. When
these particles come into the Earth's atmosphere & confined radiation belts, these
particles can be released into our upper atmosphere, causing the Aurora. These charged
particles also produce their magnetic field, which can interfere with our Earth’s
magnetic field and affect compass readings. Changes in magnetic fields may also
'induce' electricity in very long pipes or cause electrical surges in our power networks,
resulting in blackouts. [14]

The solar storm is of mainly three types-

· Solar Flare- A solar flare is a massive explosion in the Sun's atmosphere generated
by magnetic field lines twisting, merging, or rearranging.
-Arrival Time: Instantaneous -Effect Duration: 1-2 hours

Solar flares cause satellite communications and radar interference, shortwave radio
fades and blackouts, and atmospheric pull on satellites, resulting in an unanticipated
shift in orbit.

· Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)- is a large blast of plasma from the Sun that is
occasionally related to solar flares.
-Arrival time: 2 or 4 days - Effect Duration: Days

CMEs are massive clouds of seething gas, charged plasma of low to medium energy
particles with an embedded magnetic field that are ejected into interstellar space by the
Sun. When a CME hits Earth, the compressed magnetic fields and plasma at its leading
edge act like a wrecking ball, slamming into the geomagnetic field. This generates a
geomagnetic storm, which is a global disruption of the Earth's magnetic field. This
causes a transient disruption in the Earth's magnetosphere, as well as differential
gradient, an equatorial ring of currents, and curvature drift of electrons and protons in
the Near-Earth area.
The Carrington Event was the most powerful geomagnetic storm ever recorded, peaking
between September 1 and 2, 1859, during solar cycle 10. It triggered powerful auroral
displays that were observed all across the world[15], as well as sparking and even flames
in a number of telegraph stations. The geomagnetic storm was most likely caused by
the Sun's coronal mass ejection (CME) clashing with Earth's magnetosphere. [16] On
September 1, 1859, a geomagnetic storm was coupled with an extremely intense solar
flare.

· Solar proton Event(SPE)- it refers to proton/energetic particle storm.

-Arrival Time: 15 minutes to a few hours - Effect Duration: Days

Satellite disorientation, spacecraft electronics damage like solar panel deterioration,

launch payload failure, hazards to astronauts, high altitude aircraft radiation, and
disruption in polar regions, ozone layer depletion, cardiac arrest, dementia, and cancer
are all consequences of solar proton events. [17]
Conclusion-
Solar storms keep on happening time to time, but most sun storms produce very little
effect on Earth. A major Sun storm can produce drastic effects like massive power
outrage, failure of few satellites, short communication failures etc., when the strength
of a solar storm grows, and it develops the potential to cause a significant calamity on
Earth. Water, commerce, sanitation, transportation, industry, banking, communications,
and, in the winter, heating will all be affected by the blackout. Sun storms may also
affect the population on Earth; more people may suffer from cardiac arrest, heart attacks
etc.

References-
1. “Solar storm.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm. Accessed
27 February 2022.
2. Adhikari, Binod, Subodh Dahal, and Narayan P. Chapagain. "Study of field‐
aligned current (FAC), interplanetary electric field component (Ey),
interplanetary magnetic field component (Bz), and northward (x) and eastward
(y) components of geomagnetic field during supersubstorm." Earth and Space
Science 4.5 (2017): 257-274.
3. “The Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) | Help | SpaceWeatherLive.com.”
Space Weather Live, https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/help/the-
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4. “Active Regions on the Sun.” NASA, 21 April 2015,
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5. Freedman, Roger A., and William J. Kaufmann III. "Our Star, the Sun."
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February 2022.
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12. Wattles, Jackie. “SpaceX will lose up to 40 satellites it just launched due to a
solar storm.” CNN, 9 February 2022,
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scn/. Accessed 28 February 2022.
13. Zhu, Bei, et al. "Shock Properties and Associated Characteristics of Solar
Energetic Particles in the 2017 September 10 Ground-level Enhancement
Event." The Astrophysical Journal 921.1 (2021): 26.
14. “NASA IMAGE satellite,Ask the Space Scientist Archive.” NASA IMAGE
satellite,Ask the Space Scientist Archive,
https://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/a10624.html. Accessed 27 February
2022.
15. Kimball, D. S. (April 1960). "A Study of the Aurora of 1859” (PDF).
Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska. Retrieved November 28,
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17. James A. Marusek, “Solar Storm Threat Analysis.” Solar Storm Threat
Analysis, 2007.