
How do solar flares impact Earth?
A solar flare is a burst of X-ray light.
We know that the Sun influences space all the way down to the Earth's upper atmosphere.
A new study observed
when the X-rays pulsated, so too did the lower ionosphere.
The ionosphere is the lowest level of space, a region of the upper atmosphere
about 30 - 600 feet above sea level.
It is home to the aurora, the International Space Station, radio waves, and satellites.
This is the first time we have seen its
response synchronized with solar flare pulsations.
Understanding how the Sun affects
near-Earth space helps us learn how to protect astronauts and satellites close to home.
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