4. Solar Flares and Geomagnetic Storms
Powerful disruptions starting from our sun, solar flares and geomagnetic storms, have been suggested as possible causes of ball lightning on Earth. These cosmic events can have far-reaching consequences on the magnetic field and upper atmosphere of our planet, therefore generating conditions perhaps favorable for the creation of these mysterious light balls. A solar flare dumps a lot of charged particles and energy into space. These particles, if pointed toward Earth, can interact with the magnetosphere of our planet to produce geomagnetic storms. During these occurrences, the flood of charged particles can cause major ionosphere disturbances and produce high electrical currents in the top atmosphere. Under the appropriate conditions, some scientists hypothesize that these atmospheric disturbances could produce localized pockets of ionized air or plasma that might show up as ball lightning. Moreover, the strong electromagnetic oscillations brought about by geomagnetic storms could affect the behavior of charged particles in the lower atmosphere, therefore helping to produce and maintain ball lightning stability. Although the link between solar activity and terrestrial ball lightning is yet hypothetical, this is a fascinating field for more research since rising geomagnetic activity corresponds with uncommon weather events.
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