What's sparking the solar storm? Plasma, ions and 'burps'

A solar storm has created an incredible spectacle in the skies above Europe and North America this weekend. Stargazers first noticed it on Friday night, when the night sky lit up with psychedelic color. Experts say it's one of the most intense solar storms on record. But what is it? And how does a storm even happen when the average temperature is about 5,500 degrees Celsius? Here's a quick guide. 

What is a solar storm?

A solar storm is a natural phenomenon caused by eruptions on the sun. These eruptions spark a series of events which produce the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights. These are the streaks of light that are sometimes visible in the night sky. 

The eruptions also affect telecommunications systems here on Earth, nearly 150 million kilometers from the surface of the sun. 

How does it start?

Plasma erupts from the sun's surface, hurtling into space before it reaches the sun's magnetic field lines. The plasma is made up of gas and ions, and so it carries a charge. It collides with the magnetic field, generating charged particles and a range of powerful electromagnetic rays. 

How does the storm spread to Earth?

The rays and charged particles travel through space. The particles spark a reaction when they enter Earth's atmosphere - it is this reaction that causes the streaks across the night sky. 

The rays add electrons to some parts of the atmosphere, making it more dense than usual. This makes it harder for radio waves to travel through space. This is why solar storms sometimes disrupt telecommunications and satellite networks. 

What impact does it have?

Solar storms can affect GPS navigation systems used by aeroplanes and ships. This doesn't mean that flights heading to Europe will end up in Antarctica - modern planes and vessels have the technology to adjust for most solar storms. 

The storms can also disrupt the power supply in extreme situations. A solar storm cut power to nearly 30 million homes in North America in 1965. 

Will my phone have signal?

These storms do not affect the radio waves transmitted by cell phone towers... but there's a catch. The towers need electricity, so a power outage could affect their ability to relay signals to your phone.  

How often does this happen?

Experts say this activity occurs in cycles spanning around 11 years. The latest cycle is set to reach its 'maximum' either this year or next year. This may explain why we are seeing such intense storms at the moment. 

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