Solar flares hit 11 year peak, bring chance of affecting electronics

TORONTO – The Canadian Space Agency declared a geomagnetic storm warning on Tuesday because of increased amounts of solar flares, which could possibly affect earth, but according to some scientists, any notable effect to life on earth is rare.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) issued a watch for a geomagnetic storm after a flare on the Sun on Sunday evening sent a “coronal mass ejection” (CME), or a burst of charged particles and a magnetic field, hurtling toward Earth at around four million miles an hour.

IN PHOTOS: A solar storm hits earth.

Geomagnetic storms have the potential to cause amazing views of the Northern Lights but they can also cause trouble for people on Earth. The NOAA said the storm has the potential to affect navigation, power grids and satellites. Dr. Delaney says the chances of the flares affecting society is relatively low and that there is “no impact on day-to-day life, but the possibility of interrupted telephone service is possible.”

Delaney also suggested that people should not be worried about increased exposure to radiation. Delaney said solar flares do increase radiation, specifically for airline passengers near the pole, but cautioned they are “not at dangerous levels.”

There are only a select few people that could be affected directly by the increased amounts of radiation. Dr. Delaney said that even the International Space Station astronauts are only in “slightly more danger from radiation exposure,” but it is minimal. “Someone who has an extra X-ray from the doctor will pick up more radiation.”