Solar Flares
Solar disturbances, such as solar change solar output and affect the Earth's atmosphere through increases in radiation and through injection of high-energy solar particles (hydrogen nuclei or protons) into the atmosphere depending on the location of the solar flare with respect to Earth. These can react chemically with other atmospheric constituents, leading to possible short-term ozone depletion. Protons are carried to Earth by the solar wind which is stronger during a flare. Interactions between the solar wind and Earth's magnetic field are responsible for the aurora seen in high latitude regions. Increased X-ray radiation during a solar flare can cause large temperature fluctuations in the thermosphere, but has no effect on the lower atmosphere or surface of Earth. The episodic and relatively short-lived nature of these occurrences limit their importance on long-term atmospheric processes, though ozone losses of more than 20% can occur over short time periods (1-3 months) in upper stratospheric polar regions as a result of extremely large solar events (Jackman et al.,1996).