Solar Storms Distort Earth's Magnetic Field, Disrupting Bird Migrations

Severe space weather events, such as solar flares, disrupt birds' navigational skills during long migrations by affecting Earth's magnetic field. A new study analyzed radar data and ground-based magnetometers to study 23 years of bird migration across the U.S. Great Plains and found that severe space weather events decrease the number of migrating birds in the region by 9 to 17 percent. The study also observed increased rates of birds becoming lost during migration. Severe space weather events can also disrupt human navigation and are expected to increase as the sun reaches its peak in solar activity in 2025.