Sun's Fury: Solar Blasts Could Devastate Ozone Layer for Years

A new study suggests extreme solar particle blasts, occurring roughly every thousand years, could significantly deplete Earth's ozone layer for an extended period, allowing more harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the surface. 

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Solar Particle Blasts: The Sun occasionally releases bursts of protons known as solar particle events. These are much stronger than the usual stream of particles it emits.
• Impact on Ozone Layer: The study, based on computer modeling, suggests an extreme solar particle event could deplete ozone levels for around a year, increasing ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching Earth's surface.
• Worse-Case Scenario: The damage could be much more severe if Earth's magnetic field, which shields us from some radiation, is weak during such an event. In that case, ozone depletion could last up to six years, with a significant rise in UV radiation and DNA damage.
• Frequency: The study suggests these extreme events occur roughly every thousand years. The last one is estimated to have happened around 993 AD.

Overall, the study highlights a potential threat from solar activity. However, the likelihood of such an extreme event happening in the near future is considered low.