If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?
- 1.GPS and navigation systems could fail.
- 2.Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
- 3.Power grids could be damaged.
- 4.Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
- 5.Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
- 6.Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
- 7.Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
Items 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are genuine effects of a strong solar storm: it disturbs GPS, damages power grids, brightens auroras, drags on satellites and blacks out high-frequency radio near the poles. Tsunamis (item 2) come from undersea earthquakes and forest fires (item 5) are not an effect of space weather, so they are ruled out.
- ✓ 1. Solar-flare disturbances of the ionosphere range from errors of a few metres to complete loss of the GPS signal.
- ✗ 2. A tsunami needs an earthquake tremor centred below the ocean; solar storms do not generate them, at the equator or anywhere else.
- ✓ 3. Geomagnetic storms drive large ground currents (GICs) that can damage high-voltage transformers and have caused widespread power outages.
- ✓ 4. The same storms create the aurora borealis and aurora australis, and a strong one can push the northern lights as far south as Florida.
- ✗ 5. None of the recognised effects of space weather (radio, GPS, satellites, power lines, pipelines) is a ground-level fire hazard.
- ✓ 6. A strong storm heats and expands the upper atmosphere, raising drag on low-Earth-orbit satellites, which can slow them or make them lose altitude.
- ✓ 7. Near the poles, Earth's magnetic field funnels charged particles down. Severe space weather can cut radio contact with aircraft on transpolar routes, so they may need to reroute.
Remember · Solar storms hit technology: GPS, HF radio, satellites, power grids; and give auroras. They do not cause tsunamis or forest fires.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NOAA NESDIS, The Effects of Space Weather On Earth (Internet Archive copy) ↗ “The effects of solar flare disruptions can range from errors of a few meters to the complete loss of GPS signal. … GICs can flow into conductors such as power lines and damage high-voltage transformers. In the past, they have led to widespread power outages. … Extra drag can slow satellites in their orbit, or even cause them to lose altitude. … Planes flying on high-altitude transpolar routes must be aware of the space weather forecast before taking flight, as a loss of radio signal can prevent pilots from speaking with ground control. … a strong solar storm can cause the northern lights to appear as far south as Florida.”
- NCERT Class 11 · Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Chapter 3 “The effect of tsunami would occur only if the epicentre of the tremor is below oceanic waters and the magnitude is sufficiently high.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2022, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·