Solar storms have been affecting Earth in various ways, and scientists have warned of a new and powerful one hitting our planet this week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has indicated a 60% chance that the solar storm will strike Earth on Tuesday, with lower possibilities on Wednesday as well. This comes after strong eruptions from the Sun that affected our planet.
Last week saw stunning auroras light up the skies with vibrant hues of pink, green, and purple due to solar storms. Skywatchers across the globe were able to capture these rare phenomena on camera. NOAA has predicted that the latest set of solar storms will also lead to auroras, with conditions ranging from G3 to G5 on the geomagnetic scale. Despite initial concerns, there have been no significant disruptions reported to power or communications networks.
These solar flares contain large quantities of charged particles accelerated in speed and number due to intense magnetic activity on the Sun’s surface as part of its 11-year solar cycle. The solar storm is classified as a G2-class geomagnetic storm of “Moderate” intensity, occurring about 600 times per solar cycle. This type of storm can cause transformer damage at high latitudes and lead to voltage alarms in power systems. Additionally, radiation from charged particles can pose hazards to astronauts in space and disrupt power grids on Earth.
