Studies of space weather aid in the development of early warning systems for solar storms and help to minimize the damage from turbulent solar activity, researchers said.

MSN: Solar storms sparked by giant 'magnetic rope,' study finds

Martens said the houses would be razed and the land left as open space, allowing dunes, marshlands and other natural barriers to be built as protection against future storms.

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Armchair astronomers have already helped classify galaxies seen by Hubble, the main orbiting telescope of America's space agency, NASA. They have also looked for interesting asteroids, and kept an eye out for solar storms.

ECONOMIST: Amateur astronomers join the ranks of the planet hunters

Solar storms are violent eruptions on the sun that send a wave of charged particles, called plasma, into space at the speed of more than one million miles per hour.

MSN: Solar storms sparked by giant 'magnetic rope,' study finds