Solar flare radiation (geomagnetic storms) - behavior, depression, suicide rates)

Solar flare radiation plays havoc on human behavior, along with the power grids, communication systems, and navigation satellites. Researchers have found correlations between mood swings, depression and suicides when solar flare radiation is present.

Michael Berk of the University of Melbourne has found a link between the suicide rate and increase in the geomagnetic storms, which are triggered by solar flares. He matched the number of suicides to the dates of the solar flare radiation activity and found that during the solar flare radiation events, more suicides occurred, according to Textually.org

Research was done at the Westbank Clinic, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, England that suggested the geomagnetic storms from the solar flares was associated with a rise in hospital admissions for depression. This study suggests that magnetic forces do affect human's biochemical mechanisms.

Another study that was done in Russia showed the same type of correlation with depression and suicide as the other two studies mentioned above. According to an article on the website Sunlightenment, “the geomagnetism peaks matched up with the peaks of suicide, depression, mood disorders and anxiety.

The NewScientist suggests that the “plausible explanation for the association between geomagnetic activity and depression and suicide is that geomagnetic storms can desynchronize circadian rhythms and melatonin production,” according to Kelly Posner, a psychiatrist at Columbia University.

These studies do suggest that the solar flare radiation that makes it to earth can have an effect on moods and behavior. Next time you are feeling a bit blue, do a search and see if there is any solar flare activity occurring.

The solar flare radiation that is due to hit the earth's atmosphere in the next two days may also enhance the Northern Lights enough so they can be visable in the Connecticut sky. According to NOAA, it is possible that New England will see this light show from mother nature. Connecticut residents may be in for a rare occurance over the Nutmeg State.

Reference: Sunlightenment, Pub Med, Textually.org, Westbank Clinic, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, NOAA