The intensity of solar storms is classified into five levels by the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): G1-G5. What happens during a solar storm? By deforming the Earth's magnetic field, solar storms amplify the polar lights visible on the edges of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. What's a solar storm? Studies say Earth has not yet seen a massive solar storm with the ability to seriously impact our telecoms infrastructure Image: Lehtikuva/Irene Stachon/REUTERSIn July 2012, an extremely powerful "Carrington"-caliber solar storm narrowly missed Earth, according to NASA .