<p>Earth's magnetic field acts as a protective shield for the planet, deflecting radiations emitted by the sun. But what if the magnetic field weakens or completely vanishes? Something similar happened to Mars which lost its magnetic field years ago and as a result, its atmosphere. A few weeks back, Mars was hit by a strong solar particle event. The strength of the event can be gauged by the fact that the Mars Odyssey spacecraft couldn't continue operations as usual. The radiation emitted by the solar particles hitting the Mars surface was 30 times higher than a chest X-ray would produce.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A strong solar particle is when the sun blasts protons directly from its surface.</p>

<p>The Conversation, in a paper, tried to understand what would happen to Earth if a strong solar particle event hit us, and if a weak magnetic field can impact life on the planet. While weak solar particle events are common, a strong one happens only every thousand years or so. Such an event can damage the ozone layer leading to an increase in the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the surface.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/discovery-of-40000-year-old-river-system-in-antarctica-is-a-warning-sign-for-humans-737430">Discovery of 40,000-year-old river system in Antarctica is a warning sign for humans</a></p>

<h2>Role of ozone layer</h2>

<p>The ozone layer is critical to sustaining life on Earth as it absorbs harmful solar UV radiation, known to be destructive to the human body, as well as the environment. The researchers discovered that an extreme solar particle event can continue to deplete the ozone levels for over a year, making it easier for UV rays to enter the atmosphere, and consequently increasing damage to the human DNA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earth's magnetic field in its normal state protects us from heavy radiation levels from the sun. However, some ionising cosmic radiation can reach the upper atmosphere, resulting in the formation of auroras. But the geomagnetic field doesn't remain the same always and records show that it has weakened by more than six per cent in the last 100 years. In fact, it has been known to be completely absent or extremely weak for hundreds of years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An extreme solar particle event normally occurs every 1,00 years. As per records, the most recent extreme solar particle event was recorded around 993 AD.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Can weak magnetic field and solar event affect humans?</h2>

<p>A combination of a strong solar particle event and a weakened magnetic field has happened in the past. Around 42,000 years ago, the magnetic field weakened and a temporary switch happened in the north and south poles. This situation lasted 1,000 years. Surprisingly, this is the time the last Neanderthals disappeared in Europe, while in Australia the marsupial megafauna went extinct. Several groups of animals are also known to have evolved linked to the geomagnetic field.&nbsp;</p>


Earth's magnetic field acts as a protective shield for the planet, deflecting radiations emitted by the sun. But what if the magnetic field weakens or completely vanishes?

Earth's magnetic field acts as a protective shield for the planet, deflecting radiations emitted by the sun. But what if the magnetic field weakens or completely vanishes? Something similar happened to Mars which lost its magnetic field years ago and as a result, its atmosphere. A few weeks back, Mars was hit by a strong solar particle event. The strength of the event can be gauged by the fact that the Mars Odyssey spacecraft couldn't continue operations as usual. The radiation emitted by the solar particles hitting the Mars surface was 30 times higher than a chest X-ray would produce. A strong solar particle is when the sun blasts protons directly from its surface. The Conversation, in a paper, tried to understand what would happen to Earth if a strong solar particle event hit us, and if a weak magnetic field can impact life on the planet. While weak solar particle events are common, a strong one happens only every thousand years or so. Such an event can damage the ozone layer leading to an increase in the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the surface. Also Read: Discovery of 40,000-year-old river system in Antarctica is a warning sign for humans Role of ozone layer The ozone layer is critical to sustaining life on Earth as it absorbs harmful solar UV radiation, known to be destructive to the human body, as well as the environment. The researchers discovered that an extreme solar particle event can continue to deplete the ozone levels for over a year, making it easier for UV rays to enter the atmosphere, and consequently increasing damage to the human DNA. Earth's magnetic field in its normal state protects us from heavy radiation levels from the sun. However, some ionising cosmic radiation can reach the upper atmosphere, resulting in the formation of auroras. But the geomagnetic field doesn't remain the same always and records show that it has weakened by more than six per cent in the last 100 years. In fact, it has been known to be completely absent or extremely weak for hundreds of years. An extreme solar particle event normally occurs every 1,00 years. As per records, the most recent extreme solar particle event was recorded around 993 AD. Can weak magnetic field and solar event affect humans? A combination of a strong solar particle event and a weakened magnetic field has happened in the past. Around 42,000 years ago, the magnetic field weakened and a temporary switch happened in the north and south poles. This situation lasted 1,000 years. Surprisingly, this is the time the last Neanderthals disappeared in Europe, while in Australia the marsupial megafauna went extinct. Several groups of animals are also known to have evolved linked to the geomagnetic field.

Proton blasts from sun can increase radiation levels impacting life on Earth

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Proton blasts from sun can increase radiation levels impacting life on Earth