Sun's Magnetic Field Increases UK Lightning Strikes

The Sun's magnetic field is reportedly increasing the number of UK lightning strikes, possibly providing scientists with a new type of early warning system.

The Earth's magnetic field usually functions as a sort of force field against space particles known as galactic cosmic rays, which can generate lightning. However, the Sun's heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) - which travels across the solar system via solar wind - can control our own field in a way that facilitates the very lightning strikes it is designed to prevent.

"As the Sun rotates its magnetic field alternately points toward and away from the Earth, pulling the Earth's own magnetic field one way and then another," lead author Dr. Matt Owens explained in a statement.

By temporarily "bending" the Earth's magnetic field in this way it allows a shower of energetic particles to enter Earth's upper atmosphere. That's why the Sun has reportedly caused a 50 percent increase in lightning strikes in the United Kingdom between 2001 and 2006. It just so happens that the United Kingdom is situated in a region that is exposed to more galactic cosmic rays due to the way the Sun's spiral-shaped magnetic field bends Earth's own magnetic field.

The results, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, build upon previous research that first found a link between energetic particles from the Sun and lightning rates on Earth. The team used satellite and Met Office data to explore the matter further.

"This latest finding is an important step forward in our knowledge of how the weather on Earth is influenced by what goes on in space," added co-study author Giles Harrison.

Researchers hope this new insight can lead to a reliable lightning forecast system that could provide warnings of such hazardous events weeks in advance.