Experts note that if the flares occur on the side of the Sun facing Earth, there is a high probability that Earth will be affected. Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker, Head of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, explaining that solar flares can affect radio communication, power grids, navigation signals, and pose a risk to spacecraft and astronauts, said, “The lifespan of these flares varies from a few minutes to several hours. These are the most intense explosive events observed in our solar system. They possess approximately 40 million times the energy of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.”
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker, Head of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department at Üsküdar University's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, evaluated solar flares, referring to NASA's recent announcement that the most powerful solar flare in 6 years had occurred.
Solar Flares Create the Sun's Energy
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker stated that the Sun's mass is composed of 73% hydrogen, 25% helium, and the remaining part by other elements, adding, “The light coming from the Sun is formed by the fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium, and during this period, reactions, or rather flares, on the Sun cause hydrogen gas to transform into helium gas, leading to solar flares. The Sun's energy is produced as a result of nuclear fusion. Hydrogen atoms accumulated in the Sun's core transform into helium atoms through nuclear fusion, and the energy released from this transformation constitutes the Sun's energy, which then spreads throughout the solar system as heat and light.”
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker noted that if the flares occur on the side of the Sun facing Earth, there is a high probability that Earth will be affected, stating, “Under normal conditions, Earth's magnetic field protects its surface against solar storms. However, severe storms damage the magnetic field, and energetic particles manage to penetrate this shield. Solar flares can affect radio communication, power grids, navigation signals, and pose a risk to spacecraft and astronauts.” he said.
Possesses Approximately 40 Million Times the Energy of the Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker explained that one of the most violent events occurring on the solar surface in terms of energy release are solar flares, which can be defined as transient energy discharges, and stated the following:
“Flares are observed as bright areas on the Sun during visual region observations from Earth, and as sudden increases in noise (Radio Bursts) during radio region observations. Their lifespans vary from a few minutes to several hours. These are the most intense explosive events observed in our solar system. They possess approximately 40 million times the energy of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The fragmentation and reconnection of very strong magnetic fields constitute the initial energy source required for flares to occur. They emit radiation across almost every wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, including gamma radiation, X-radiation, visible radiation, and radio radiation.”
Military Early Warning Systems Also Affected by Solar Activity
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker stated that the vast majority of communication systems used over long distances utilize the ionosphere to reflect radio signals, and explained, “Radio communications are affected by storms occurring in the ionosphere at all latitudes. In such a situation, a portion of radio frequencies is absorbed in the ionosphere, while another portion is reflected. As a result, radio signals propagate in unexpected directions, or their intensities rapidly decrease and then increase. The groups most affected by solar activity causing these events are; radios broadcasting intercontinental radio, ships communicating with the coast, aircraft communicating with airports, amateur radio operators, and satellite operators. Military early warning systems are also affected by solar activity. Radars used for launching and guiding long-range missiles also utilize the ionosphere. These systems are significantly affected by the interference that occurs during magnetic storms. There are systems that detect the magnetic properties of submarines to determine their locations. The detection of these signals from submarines is also disrupted during geomagnetic storms.”
Solar Activity Also Affects GPS Signals Used for Position Determination
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker explained that the radio waves of existing international systems are also affected by solar activity, and said, “The OMEGA communication system has eight transmission stations located in different parts of the world. Aircraft and ships use very low frequencies from these transmission stations to determine their positions. During geomagnetic storms and solar events, this communication system can provide incorrect information to receiving vehicles, potentially leading to significant errors in position determination. When solar activity causes sudden changes in the ionosphere's density, GPS (Global Positioning System) signals used for time and position determination are also affected.”
Particles Released During Severe Solar Flares Are as Dangerous as a Nuclear Explosion
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker also stated that during solar activity, increased geomagnetic storms and ultraviolet radiation can cause satellites to slow down and, over time, lead to unwanted altitude losses in their orbits.
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker, stating, “High-energy particles released during severe solar flares are as dangerous to human life as the radiation energy released after nuclear explosions or accidents,” added, “Protons coming from the Sun with energies higher than 30 MeV are very dangerous.”
Migratory Birds' Navigational Abilities Disrupted During Migration
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker stated that one of the indications of changes in the Sun causing disruptions in biological systems is the impairment of migratory birds' navigational abilities during migration, and added, “Pigeons, dolphins, and whales have natural compasses consisting of small magnetic mineral units embedded in their nervous systems. While this may not be the most fundamental method they use for orientation, many observations have shown that a significant number of pigeons from migrating groups caught in a geomagnetic storm during their return journeys did not come back.”
Prof. Dr. Selim Şeker stated that Kandilli Observatory sends its observations regarding sunspots and flares to the U.S. National Geophysical Data Center, and said, “Thanks to this international exchange of information, scientists worldwide gain access to global databases. Centers that contribute data to the World Data Center can utilize the generated data without any charge.”