Solar Storms Could Cause Major Economic Harm Warns Igor Purlantov Scientists at NASA have recently been studying the increase in solar activity to try and understand what affect it may have on Earth. This work has been carried out in large part due to the expected increase of solar storms in 2012 and 2013. Although many have tied this increase of solar activity to the Mayan Long Count Calendar and predictions for December 21, 2012, the threat of global economic harm as a result of solar flares is very real says Igor Purlantov. in Public bookmarkswith activitycarringtoneventflaresigorpurlantovsolarstorms