How to measure geomagnetic storm on Earth?

I found an article that talks about this:

A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is categorized as a massive burst of solar wind along with magnetic fields that rise above the solar corona, while being released into space.

CME’s have been linked with other types of solar activity such as solar flares, but no correlation between the 2 has ever been confirmed.

When a Coronal Mass Ejection is directed towards the Earth, an anomaly of space weather may occur that is described as a Geo-Magnetic Storm.

A geomagnetic storm is created by the solar wind is shockwave and the magnetic field created by a Coronal Mass Ejection. This geomagnetic storm can affect the Earth’s magnetic field, which is referred to as a magnetosphere.

The outward most atmosphere of the sun is called the Corona, the structure of which is an extremely strong magnetic field. Fields of sunspots on the sun are often closed over, and when the confined solar atmosphere in these sunspots erupts, a sudden and violent release of particles combined with gas and magnetic fields create a Coronal Mass Ejection. Billions of tons of solar particles then surge outward from the surface of the sun, at speeds approaching 1.5 million MPH.

This occasionally creates auroras in the North and South Pole regions of the earth, which may or may not affect electrical and satellite communication systems here on earth, depending on the intensity of the CME.

Apparently, geomagnetic storms have an effect on the suicide rate, as well as other conditions mentioned previously by someone. Here's the source:

http://www.jamesgoulding.com/Research_II/The%20Sun/Sun%20%28The%20effect%20of%20geomagnetic%20storms%20on%20suicide%29.pdf

This scientific paper states, ''Numerous laboratory studies have shown the effects of magnetic fields on living organisms.'' (Source: Liboff AR, McLeod BRO. Kinetics of channelized membrane ions in magnetic fields. Bioelectromagnetics 1988; 9 : 39-51 and Lednev W. Possible mechanisms for the influence of weak magnetic fields on biological systems. Bioelectromagnetics 1991; 12 : 71-76.)

Further, ''Neurobiochemical studies have shown that energy fields at the same strength as geomagnetic field strengths (GMF), decreases the hydrophobic character of the cell membrane leading to changing permeability.'' (Source: Adey WR. Tissue interactions with non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. Physiological Review 1981; 61 : 435-514., Tenforde TS, Kaune WT. Interaction of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields with humans. Health Physics 1987; 53 :585-606. and Marron MT, Goodman EM, Sharpe PT, et al. Low frequency electric and magnetic fields have different effects on the cell surface. FEBS Letters 1988; 230 : 13-16)

''It has been shown that magnetic fields alter the electrical properties of solutions and their physiological effects.'' (Source: Ayrapetyan SN,Grigorian KV, Avanesian AS, Stamboltsian KV. Magnetic fields alter electrical properties and their physiological effects. Bioelectromagnetics 1194; 15 : 133-142.)

Added to this we have several acadmic papers which show that the cryptochrome protein in the human retina exhibits light-dependent magnetosensitivity.

http://newyorksparrow.wikispaces.com/file/view/Human+cryptochrome.pdf is a very good example. There are also indications that the pineal gland, which regulates the circadian rhythm and which is involved with the regulation and production of melatonin, is a magnetosensitive system.

- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1715400
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.2250140203/abstract).

This shows that it is possible that geomagnetic storms could affect the human body... and you can quote the sources, which are numerous.