Solar Flares and Mood Swings: How the Sun Affects Human Physiology

Ever since the earliest human civilizations, the sun has been an entity shrouded in mystery and awe. With the accepted heliocentric model of the universe, virtually all workings of Earth, from the inception of life to the daily changes in weather, have been attributed to the sun. Now, with increased scientific understanding and technological advancement, the activity and effects of the scintillating star on our planet can be documented in immense detail; some of the acquired knowledge includes solar phenomena, such as sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CME) (Gradvohl, 2017). While these phenomena have distinct and observable physical effects on the Earth, their impact on human health and behaviour is largely underreported and much less understood.

In order to recognize the interaction between the Earth’s inhabitants and the sun, it is first important to consider Earth’s geomagnetic field. It is believed that the magnetic field surrounding Earth is generated by a combination of the planet’s rotation and a circulating electric current in what is known as the dynamo effect (Sutter, 2015). The salient purpose of the magnetic field is to act as a protective barrier against charged particles ejected into space by solar flares or solar winds (Figure 1) (NASA, 2017).

For life on Earth, this means that the atmosphere impedes a large amount of ultraviolet radiation from hitting the surface, consequently reducing the potentially damaging effects it has on the planet’s life (Sutter, 2015). However, since the frequency and intensity of solar events are always changing, and most solar events are left unseen, the immediate effects on people are unclear. Moreover, while Earth’s magnetic field offers a level of physical protection, the psychological and physiological consequences of solar activity are arguably more detrimental to human health.

One study investigating the effects of electromagnetic fields on the pineal gland found that levels of the hormone melatonin are altered in the presence of electromagnetic activity (Halgamuge, 2012). The function of melatonin as regulator of the pineal gland is significant for the body’s circadian rhythm (or sleep-wake cycle), where melatonin imbalances can promote poor-sleep, anxiety, depression, and mood changes (Halgamuge, 2012; Marshall, 2014). In general, the incidence of these symptoms in hospital admissions has been correlated to moments of increased geomagnetic activity (Marshall, 2014).

Additional research shows that cosmological events have an impact on physiological processes. In a two-year study involving three Greek hospitals, the heart rates of 482 individuals were observed to change based on geomagnetic activity and cosmic ray intensity; in the days leading up to and following geomagnetic storms, as well as when cosmic ray intensity increased, the heart rates of the monitored individuals were increased (Galata, et al., 2017).

Overall, while it seems that all of the observable activities of the sun are known, there are a number of latent yet commonplace effects that also occur. Examining the interaction of Earth’s magnetic field and the sun’s electromagnetic emissions, there are tangible implications for human health. Therefore, in order to truly understand the place of humanity in the solar system, it is important to recognize and continue to study the many impacts of the sun’s activity.

References

Alexander, A., 2015. The Dynamic Earth – External Radiant Energy From the Sun Drives Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Processes.[online] SlidePlayer. Available at: <http://slideplayer.com/slide/4279695/> [Accessed 27 Sep. 2017].

Galata, E., Ioannidou, S., Papailiou, M., Mavromichalaki, H., Paravolidakis, K., Kouremeti, M., Rentifis, L., Simantirakis, E. and Trachanas, K., 2017. Impact of space weather on human heart rate during the years 2011–2013. Astrophysics and Space Science, [online] 362(8). Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10509-017-3118-8#citeas [Accessed 26 Sep. 2017].

Gradvohl, A.C.A., 2017. Space weather and the impact of solar phenomena on human activities. [online] IEEE Transmitter. Available at: <http://transmitter.ieee.org/space-weather-impact-solar-phenomena-human-activities/> [Accessed 26 Sep. 2017].

Halgamuge, M.N., 2012. Pineal melatonin level disruption in humans due to electromagnetic fields and ICNIRP limits. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, [online] 154(4), pp.405–416. Available at: http://people.eng.unimelb.edu.au/malkah/Publications/2013_Halgamuge_Melatonin.pdf [Accessed 26 Sep. 2017].

Marshall, J., 2014. Solar flare: The sun touches our psyche. [online] The Washington Times. Available at: <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/31/solar-flare-sun-touches-our-psyche/> [Accessed 26 Sep. 2017].

NASA, 2017. Solar Flares. [online] National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Available at: <https://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/sftheory/flare.htm> [Accessed 26 Sep. 2017].

Sutter, P., 2015. Shields up! How the Earth got a force field. [online] Space. Available at: <https://www.space.com/31369-why-the-earth-has-a-force-field.html> [Accessed 26 Sep. 2017].