If a huge solar storm hits Earth, THIS is how terrifying it will be

tech.hindustantimes.com:

The Sun has entered a new solar maximum phase, which is characterised by higher activity that leads to frequent shooting out of coronal mass ejection (CME). That means the threat of a huge solar storm striking Earth has increased significantly. And yet, most of us do not understand the truly destructive power of a solar storm. Apart from minor incidents of temporary loss of mobile network or cautionary electricity supply cut off, the only way we remember a solar storm or a geomagnetic storm is by aurora borealis or northern lights. These fantastic patterned lights cover the entire sky near the northern hemisphere displaying beautiful colours. But if the intensity of the solar storm was really high, the same solar storm could have a horrifying effect. History is filled with such examples, with the most renowned one being the Carrington Event.

Around a century and a half ago, on September 1 and 2, 1859, a massive solar storm struck the Earth and immediately caused a global failure of the telegraph system. The telegraph operators reported receiving electric shocks upon touching the instruments, telegraph paper spontaneously caught fire and some equipment started working without being connected. The event is now known as the Carrington Event when a severe storm spelled disaster for the telegraph system.

The Sun releases massive amounts of energy containing visible light, ultraviolet and infrared, gamma as well as electromagnetic radiation. This is a massive ejection of energy millions of kilometres out into space. These have been dubbed as CMEs. When this energy blast reaches Earth, it generates a geomagnetic storm. While the Earth's atmosphere protects us from most of this blast, if the solar storm is big enough, it will