are caused by particles from the solar storm smashing  是太阳风暴夹带的微粒

through the magnetic field at the poles.  撞击地球两极磁场的结果

When they strike the upper atmosphere  它们撞击高层大气时

they light up the polar skies.  会照亮极地天空

In the strongest storms at the peak of the solar cycle  在太阳周期达巅峰时产生的强烈风暴中

the Northern lights can be seen  连雅典和古巴

as far south as Athens and Cuba.  都看得到北极光

But the buffeting of the magnetic field has other unseen effects.  但对磁场的冲击还有其他肉眼看不到的影响

Migratory animals that navigate using the magnetic field  利用磁场导航的动物

can lose their bearings.  可能会迷失方向

Racing pigeons don't come home.  赛鸽回不了家

And whale strandings have been  鲸鱼搁浅的频率

seen to increase with solar activity.  会随着太阳的活动而增加

But most worrying for us is the effect  但最让我们担忧的是

that the disrupted magnetic field can have on electronics.  混乱磁场对电子系统造成的影响

The strongest storms can damage  强烈太阳风暴可能会破坏

or destroy satellites with devastating effects.  或摧毁卫星，造成严重影响

We're sort of more sensitive to the sun  我们对太阳的敏感程度

than we probably realise  也许超乎我们的理解

because when the sun releases these,  因为当太阳以太阳闪焰和

this magnetic energy in the form of solar flares and,  日冕物质抛射

and coronal mass ejections,  的形式释放磁力时

maybe you don't notice it at first, but um,  也许你一开始不会注意到

the crackle on your cell phone  但手机出现杂音

or your cell phone going out  或手机没信号

may actually be caused by enhanced activity on the sun.  很可能是因为太阳活动增强所致

Mobile telephones, television,  行动电话，电视

airplane navigation even weapons guidance systems  飞机导航系统，甚至武器导航系统

all rely on satellite communication  都仰赖卫星通讯

and all can be disturbed by space weather.  所以都会受到太空天气的干扰

The more we are reliant on these systems  我们越仰赖这些系统

the more we will feel the effects of the sun's tantrums.  就越能感受到太阳发火的威力

But we still don't understand  但我们对太空天气

all of the effects of Space Weather.  造成的影响仍未透彻了解

No-one can explain the effect on the climate.  没有人能解释其对气候造成的影响

Or why the disappearance of sunspots should cause an ice age.  或是太阳黑子消失为何会引发冰河时期

It may not matter.  也许已经无所谓了

The small effect that solar variation has on the climate  太阳活动对气候造成的微小变化

has long since been drowned out by man-made global warming.  早就因人为的全球暖化而相形见绌