Solar flare reaches earth caused no damage

Earth recently embraced a power solar storm in last 5 years but caused no damage.
What are Solar flares?

• A solar flare or solar storm is a abrupt brightening observed over the Sun’s surface or the solar limb, which is understood as a huge energy release of up to 6 × 10²⁵ joules of energy (about a sixth of the total energy output of the Sun each second).
• The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona of the sun into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day or two after the happening.

What could have been the possible hazards of these Storms?

• The solar storm could have impacted Earth’s magnetosphere and energy released in the form of X-rays can be hazardous to spacecraft, astronauts, and cosmonauts.
• It could also have disrupted the function of Power grids, Satellites and Airplane routes.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2012