Flash reception: magnetic storm affected drones, orientation of birds and health of earthlings

An extreme magnetic storm caused by abnormal solar activity and the strongest radiation storm in recent decades has affected navigation systems, the operation of equipment, including drones and satellites, and even the orientation of birds. According to experts, although the impact of such events on human health remains a controversial issue, the well—being of weather-dependent people could also worsen - patients with diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems, as well as with arthritis and epilepsy are at risk. The consequences of the extreme phenomenon on Earth and in space are described in the Izvestia article.

Radiation storm in space

Scientists do not rule out the occurrence of a second peak of a strong magnetic storm, the first wave of which ended on the afternoon of January 20. However, it will no longer be as powerful, Sergey Yazev, senior researcher at the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the Astronomical Observatory of Irkutsk State University, told Izvestia. According to him, the recorded phenomena were the result of the last powerful solar flare of the X1.9 X-ray class, which occurred on January 18 in an area located in the central part of the visible solar disk opposite the Earth. The flare was accompanied by a strong release of a plasma cloud.

— It turned out that the active region was not far from the central meridian of the Sun, and this meant that the ejecta would inevitably hit the Earth. Energetic protons were the first to arrive on our planet. They covered 150 million km in 25 hours, which requires an average speed of over 1,600 km/s. Their arrival caused an S4-level radiation storm in the vicinity of the Earth. The flow of protons was enormous – it came to 37,000 particles per second per square centimeter. This value has been in second place since March 24, 1991," Sergei Yazev told Izvestia.

The scientist noted that it was the most powerful radiation storm in the 21st century. On the night of January 20, a plasma cloud ejected during the flare reached the Earth, which led to a sharp increase in the speed of the solar wind. As a result, an extremely strong geomagnetic storm began, which soon approached the extreme level of G4.7.

"It reached the level of the previous very strong storm observed on November 12, 2025 (also G4.7) and came close to the G5 level of the most powerful storm in recent decades, recorded on May 10-12, 2024," added Sergey Yazev.

Reports have spread in some media outlets about the alleged evacuation of the ISS crew to one of the station's modules after a powerful solar flare. However, this information is not true, Roscosmos said. They reported that increased geomagnetic disturbances did not affect the operation of the ISS.

"The Russian crew of the International Space Station is operating normally according to the flight program. There is no threat to the health of the crew and the safety of the station," the state corporation said in a statement.

Arslan Niyazov, a doctor of aviation and space medicine and a senior researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia that weather-dependent people with increased sensitivity to weather factors usually react to magnetic storms. Astronauts undergo rigorous medical selection and intensive training before the flight, which reduces the impact of such factors on their condition.

— Therefore, no significant changes in their condition related to geomagnetic disturbances were recorded on board the ISS. At the same time, the topic of the influence of magnetic fields on humans is relevant. For example, the Institute of Biomedical Problems is studying the effects of a hypomagnetic field - that is, a weakened magnetic field — in preparation for manned flights into deep space," the doctor noted.

According to him, the fact is that all processes in living organisms, including humans, were formed during evolution in the conditions of the earth's magnetic field. Therefore, its absence may lead to consequences that have not yet been studied.

— At the same time, it should be noted that the existing orbital stations (ISS and Tiangong) are located within the Earth's magnetic field.

For astronauts, the greatest danger is not the magnetic storms themselves, but their cause — coronal mass ejections from the Sun, which carry clouds of plasma. This poses a man-made threat to on-board equipment, satellites and communication systems and leads to a significant increase in radiation exposure, Arslan Niyazov emphasized.

Therefore, such events are carefully monitored, and, for example, spacewalks are planned taking into account the level of solar activity. The adverse effect on the astronaut's body in such conditions is the accumulation of radiation doses above the acceptable level, the expert noted.

Currently, the activity of the magnetic storm is decreasing, said Alexander Volvach, deputy director of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.

— At the moment, our instruments show that the magnetic storm is subsiding. It reached its maximum at night. Now it is gradually decreasing to the level of G2–G1," he explained to Izvestia.

According to him, the storm affected the work of the satellites.

— If you do not suspend the operation of satellites, do not react to the comic weather factor, then the equipment may even fail. But with large flashes, the equipment is turned off to protect it," said Alexander Volvach.

A magnetic storm on Earth

Meanwhile, a large number of photos with the northern Lights appeared on the Network. According to eyewitnesses, it can be seen in the sky over Sochi, Kaliningrad, Perm and other cities. Alexander Volvach stressed that in the coming days it will be possible to observe this phenomenon.

— The Aurora borealis can be observed in the northern regions, of course. In the southern regions, this possibility is not excluded, but everything will depend on the strength of the magnetic storm. If the class rises to G4 again, then the northern lights will be in Crimea," he said.

Geomagnetic events of this magnitude could affect the operation of machinery on Earth. According to the expert, problems were observed with the communication system, as well as with the navigation satellite system and everything related to location determination. From the point of view of navigation, the storm rebuilds the ionosphere, which directly affects the measurement of the distance to objects (there is an additional delay in the signal). There are correction mechanisms, but the accuracy of navigation is decreasing, the editor-in-chief of IT-World added.RU and IT Expert magazine Andrey Vinogradov.

— The error, which gives meters in calm conditions, can reach tens of meters during a strong storm, and high–precision PPP/RTK modes that provide centimeters can degrade to decimeters-meters or even "fall" for minutes, since it is disrupted as a measuring base. This is really important for unmanned vehicles: they use navigation not only to link to the terrain, but also as a time data source for synchronizing on—board buses, lidars/radars, and mapping with maps," the specialist said.

As for human health, a magnetic storm can affect well-being in patients with disorders of the autonomic nervous system, said Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, an expert at the Hemotest laboratory and a neurologist. People with diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems, arthritis, and epilepsy may not feel well.

"The fluctuation of the earth's electromagnetic field triggers small changes in the body — blood viscosity may increase slightly, and the tone of the capillary walls may change," she pointed out. — All this affects blood flow and well-being. Specific symptoms often depend on a person's chronic diseases, but mostly people complain of heart problems that occur due to changes in vagus nerve tone, dizziness and headache, and aching joint pain.

In addition, if a magnetic storm lasts a long time or the fluctuations are strong, the bioelectric activity of the human brain is disrupted.

— You can prepare for a magnetic storm: if possible, adjust the regime, go to bed and get up at the same time, sleep for at least eight hours, walk outdoors, drink water, do not overwork, avoid stress," the doctor said. — It is also important to pay attention to nutrition: do not drink alcohol, energy drinks, coffee, tea, cocoa, reduce the amount of sweets and fatty foods in the diet, eat more protein (lean meat, fish, eggs, milk), vegetables and fruits.

Geomagnetic disturbances have affected not only humans, but also animals.

"During strong magnetic storms, we observe disorientation in birds when we check them without access to astronomical landmarks — that is, when they have no other way to choose a direction besides a magnetic compass," Nikita Chernetsov, director of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia.:

In nature, birds in such a situation will either use an astronomical compass (for example, a star compass), or, most likely, they simply will not fly in such conditions, the scientist noted.