Extreme solar storms could punch deeper than feared, new study finds
A Nature study argues the Earth’s response to extreme solar storms may be stronger than previously estimated because most measurements come from near the Sun–Earth L1 point. When researchers analyzed data from spacecraft closer to Earth, they found geomagnetic disturbances continue to rise with solar-wind strength, suggesting rare one-in-a-thousand-year events could have greater impacts on satellites, GPS, communications, and power grids, even as such events remain extremely rare. Historical storms like the Carrington Event and Quebec blackout are cited to illustrate potential risks, underscoring the need to rethink extreme space-weather risk assessments during solar maximum.