Dr Jonathan Eastwood, Research Fellow in Space and Atmospheric Physics at Imperial College London, said: "At the moment, the Earth's magnetic field is trying to deflect the solar material around the Earth, and scientists in the UK and around the world are monitoring the situation to see if our magnetic shield will hold up. Solar storms are a natural part of the Sun's 11-year cycle, and begin to increase in number and strength as it reaches its most active phase known as the "solar maximim," which will arrive next year. While the star is in its most intensely active period it is reasonble to expect more flares to occur, some of which could be even bigger, experts said. Prof Alan Woodward, of the University of Surrey's computing department, said a massive flare during the Olympics this summer would have the potential to be catastrophic. He said: "As the 2012 Olympic approach we have a convergence of an event that is the most connected, computer intensive event, ever, with a record level of sunspot activity which typically leads to solar flares. "We have the potential this year to see what planners call a "Black Swan" event: one that is unlikely but if it happens will have an extraordinary impact on our lives.