Solar shock wave hits earth what are the potential hazards? [Video]

Earth is experiencing what’s called a severe-level geomagnetic solar storm, the second to the highest level, that sends out huge spikes of energy and radiation from the sun. The more we rely on high-tech communications and services, the more vulnerable we are to the cycles of our star, 93 million miles away.

Solar storms are important as this and next year will be the peak activity of the 11-year solar cycle. Hazards to earthlings can come when the solar shock waves hit Earth’s electrically charged layer.

Astronomical experts Big Quock and Andrew Fraknoi say that layer protects the planet, the people and technology from solar and cosmic radiation. “Way back in 1989, there was a major power outage that affected the northeast and that was due to the effect of a solar storm,” said Quock.

Skylab, America’s first space station, was downed by a 1979 solar storm. “That caused the …