Solar storm warning: Alert issued as huge energy blast from the Sun hits Earth

major-geomagnetic-storm

NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captures a solar eruption on March 28 Credit: NOAA

An alert from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed the Earth is currently being blasted by a major geomagnetic storm caused by a flare erupting from the surface of the Sun.

The organisation has classified the storm as G3, which is considered strong, The Mirror reports on Monday, April 11.

Forecasters are warning the strength of the geomagnetic storm could disrupt power systems, cause problems for satellites and astronauts in space.

It could also take down navigation systems and radio communications.

The agency said solar storms of such magnitude can cause auroras – like the famous Northern Lights.

In the UK it is likely, given good conditions, that people in northern parts of the country may see the phenomenon.

The UK’s Met Office announced the Northern Lights could become visible to people in far northern England and Northern Ireland.

They added the rare sight would be visible under clear skis between Sunday evening and Tuesday night.

A geomagnetic storm happens when the Earth’s magnetic field is disrupted by a shock wave from a solar wind – an explosion from the surface of the Sun.

This current storm is classified as a G3, which is two places away from G5 – the highest storm level.

At the G5 level of a solar storm, the charged electromagnetic particles can cause electricity grids around the world to collapse, bringing down satellite navigation alongside other major electrical problems.

In February, Elon Musk’s SpaceX revealed that it lost up to 40 out of 49 Starlink satellites it launched earlier, after a recent geomagnetic solar storm.

SpaceX said: “These storms cause the atmosphere to warm and atmospheric density at our low deployment altitudes to increase.”


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Written by

Fergal MacErlean

Originally from Dublin, Fergal is based on the eastern Costa del Sol and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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