Strongest solar storm in over 20 years strikes Earth; brings spectacular auroras
The strongest solar storm in over 20 years hit Earth on Friday, causing breathtaking celestial light displays in the skies from Tasmania to Britain and raising the possibility of interference with satellites and electricity systems as it continued through the weekend.
An intense solar storm was forming in orbit, according to a previous advisory from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
REPORT: The U.S. government has issued its first geomagnetic storm watch in ~20 years, warning Americans of solar activity that could knock out communications and GPS systems.
According to NOAA, the power grid is at risk and warns Americans of "possible widespread voltage… pic.twitter.com/ArmBeKc6Ar
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 10, 2024
The warning highlighted the possible threats to vital infrastructure, such as power grids, communication networks, and satellite operations, and was categorized as a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch. The US government had stated that this incident can potentially disrupt electrical gadgets like GPS.
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Later on, it was elevated to a “extreme” geomagnetic storm, the first since the infamous “Halloween Storms” of October 2003, which destroyed power infrastructure in South Africa and caused blackouts in Sweden. Over the next few days, more CMEs are predicted to strike the globe.
People from northern Europe and Australasia shared photographs of auroras on social media.
“We’ve just woken the kids to go watch the Northern Lights in the back garden! Clearly visible with the naked eye,” Iain Mansfield, a think tanker in Hertford, Britain told AFP.
The electricity system, airlines, and satellite operators were alerted by the authorities to take preventative measures against possible interruptions resulting from modifications to Earth’s magnetic field.
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CMEs travel more slowly than solar flares, which reach Earth in about eight minutes at the speed of light. According to experts, the current average speed of CMEs is 800 kilometers (500 miles per second).
Geomagnetic storms
The planet’s surface and near-Earth orbit facilities pose serious risk from geomagnetic storms, which are brought on by CMEs that are aimed towards Earth. Beyond just technical difficulties, NOAA’s warning highlighted the possibility of significant effects on satellite, radio, and navigation systems. Potential internet disruptions are a worry since they are a vital component of the contemporary communication infrastructure.
Named for British scientist Richard Carrington, the Carrington Event—the strongest geomagnetic storm in recorded history—took place in September 1859.
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“CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations,” the US agency said.
Blackouts may result from currents being induced in long wires, such as power lines, by the fluctuating magnetic fields linked to geomagnetic storms. Additionally, long pipelines may become electrified, which could cause engineering issues.
