Feature Earth

Pinning Down the Sun-Climate Connection

Solar influence extends beyond warm, sunny days

By Sid Perkins

Second in a two-part series on the sun-Earth connection. Part one available at Stormy Weather.

When a solar storm reaches Earth, the aurora borealis, or northern lights, can extend as far south as Texas. This image shows the aurora observed from Echo Mountain, 32 miles northeast of El Paso. C. Grohusko/

Lawrence

The solar flares that spew massive amounts of energy and particles earthward are notorious for the havoc they can wreak on satellites, power grids, and our planet’s magnetic field (SN: 1/13/01, p. 26: Available at Stormy Weather). The charged particles that slam into the outer fringes of the atmosphere also ionize the air and stimulate shimmering auroras.