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Solar Activity Effects
The current solar cycle, known as Solar Cycle 25, has been full of activity, more so than expected.
Solar flares can affect communications and GPS almost immediately because they disrupt Earth’s ionosphere, or part of the upper atmosphere.
Energetic particles released by the sun can also disrupt electronics on spacecraft and affect astronauts without proper protection within 20 minutes to several hours.
Extreme storms can knock out the power grid, such as one that knocked out the power grid in Quebec in 1989.
Geomagnetic storms driven by the sun in February and April caused auroras to be visible in places where they are rarely seen, including as far south as New Mexico, Missouri, North Carolina and California in the United States, and the southeast of England and other parts of the United Kingdom.