The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) keeps a close eye on the Sun through its Space Weather Prediction Center. They use the NOAA space weather scales to rate the severity of geomagnetic activity and issue alerts when solar storms are brewing.
Understanding the solar cycle helps scientists predict periods of increased solar activity. During solar maximum, when the Sun’s magnetic field flips and sunspots peak, more CMEs and solar flares occur. CMEs send shock waves and embedded magnetic fields hurtling through the solar system.
When a fast CME is directed toward Earth and strikes our planet’s magnetosphere, it can compress Earth’s dayside magnetic field and trigger a major geomagnetic storm.
Preventive measures are crucial. Engineers design power grid systems to handle magnetic storms, and satellite operators adjust orbits or shut down sensitive equipment. By studying how magnetic storms develop and behave, we can better protect the technology that keeps our world humming.
We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.
