H athaway was one of several scientists who spoke about the current solar maximum in a panel discussion at the American Geophysical Union's recent annual fall meeting in San Francisco. The big difference for us is our increasing dependence on technology in general and on space-based technology in particular. Certainly it's not going to wipe out the planet although it may affect a satellite or two. The story about a powerful CME is gaining wide circulation on the Internet, largely because there are elements of truth to it. The solar cycle is climbing towards maximum.
CMEs can generate geomagnetic storms that disrupt or damage satellites.
Geomagnetic storms have overloaded the power grid in the American northeast. Here are the basics. The spots are actually regions of intense magnetic activity where the solar atmosphere is slightly cooler than the surrounding atmosphere. This makes the regions appear black when viewed through filters that reduce the light to bearable intensities for cameras and eyes. A comparison of the sun at mid-latitude last month and three years ago.