Question

During which type of solar weather would one predict power grid operations on Earth could degrade?

solar flares
solar flares

coronal mass ejections (CMEs)
coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

solar wind
solar wind

solar energetic particles
solar energetic particles

Answer 1

Power grid operations on Earth could degrade primarily due to **coronal mass ejections (CMEs)**. CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's corona, and when directed toward Earth, they can interact with the Earth's magnetic field, leading to geomagnetic storms. These storms can induce electric currents in power lines, potentially damaging transformers and disrupting power grid operations.

While solar flares can also affect satellite communications and navigation systems, CMEs are more directly linked to disruptions in power grids. Solar wind and solar energetic particles have other effects but are generally less impactful on terrestrial power infrastructure compared to CMEs.