Solar activity such as solar storms, CME’s, solar flares, sun spots, prominences – what do they affect here on earth such as temperature, cell activity, Maunder Minimum, etc.?

Question

anonymous · Answer

This is for  a final exam review and I cant seem to find it  on google or in my lesson all my lesson says is that when like solar flares are projected off it powers the earth but if Im understanding the question right its asking for temperatures and like cell activity.

anonymous · Answer

I think this might be to do with the effects on Earth - one very notable effect is the induction of current in Earth-based electrical systems when there is highly active Aurora borealis: because of the charged nature of the particles there is a current induced in the wires. This can mean that telephones don't work because of current induced. This can have drastic effects on power lines - what is known as Ground induced current (or GIC) lead to a power blackout over the Hydro-Quebec system that affected six million people. More up to date technology can be affected: GPS signals are at a high enough frequency to be distorted by the disruption in the ionosphere cuased by aurora. There's more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_weather#Effects_of_space_weather_on_ground_systems