Solar flares often disrupt Earth's upper atmosphere and help power stunning auroras. Now, scientists suggest those same bursts of solar energy might also influence earthquakes.
When a solar flare erupts toward our planet, it can subtly rearrange charged particles in Earth's ionosphere, a region of the upper atmosphere filled with electrically charged gas. In a new study, the researchers suggest that those changes may slightly alter the electrical forces within Earth's crust and affect the stability of faults where earthquakes can occur.
