Can solar storms trigger earthquakes? Scientists propose surprising link

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Solar storms might not just dazzle the skies—they could help nudge vulnerable faults toward earthquakes. A bold new model from Kyoto University suggests that the Sun may play a subtle role in triggering earthquakes. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com Scientists at Kyoto University have developed a theoretical model examining whether disturbances in the ionosphere could apply electrostatic forces deep within the Earth's crust. Under certain conditions, these forces might contribute to the start of large earthquakes. The research is not designed to forecast earthquakes. Instead, it outlines a possible physical mechanism showing how shifts in ionospheric charge levels -- triggered by intense solar activity such as solar flares -- might interact with already weakened areas of the crust and influence how fractures develop. How the Ionosphere Could Affect Fault Zones In this model, cracked regions of the crust are thought to contain water at extremely high temperatures and pressures, possibly in a supercritical state. Electrically, these fractured zones may act like capacitors. T
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