Solar storm WARNING! Powerful CME ejected by the Sun set to strike Earth today

The Earth will be tormented by a powerful solar storm today, November 22. The incoming solar disturbance has been caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) spewed out by the Sun.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Nov 22 2022, 11:34 IST

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Think you know our Sun? Check out THESE 5 stunning facts

1/5 The Sun is the largest object in our solar system and is a 4.5 billion-year-old star – a hot glowing ball of hydrogen and helium at the center of the solar system. It is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth, and without its energy, life as we know it could not exist here on our home planet. (Pixabay)

image caption — 2/5 The Sun’s volume would need 1.3 million Earths to fill it. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris in orbit around it. The hottest part of the Sun is its core, where temperatures top 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius). The Sun’s activity, from its powerful eruptions to the steady stream of charged particles it sends out, influences the nature of space throughout the solar system. (NASA)

3/5 According to NASA, measuring a “day” on the Sun is complicated because of the way it rotates. It doesn't spin as a single, solid ball. This is because the Sun’s surface isn't solid like Earth's. Instead, the Sun is made of super-hot, electrically charged gas called plasma. This plasma rotates at different speeds on different parts of the Sun. At its equator, the Sun completes one rotation in 25 Earth days. At its poles, the Sun rotates once on its axis every 36 Earth days. (NASA)

In the last couple of weeks, the onslaught of solar storms has increased multifold. Every other day, the Earth is struck by a solar storm with a varying degree of intensity that is causing all sorts of troubles for us including, GPS disruption, radiowave blackouts and more. And it is not likely to stop anytime soon. Today, November 22, a powerful solar storm is expected to strike the Earth sparked by a coronal mass ejection (CME). Read on to know about its consequences.

The development was noted in a report by SpaceWeather.com which stated, “NOAA forecasters say there is a chance of minor G1-class solar storms on Nov. 22nd when a CME might sideswipe Earth's magnetic field. The faint CME was hurled into space on Nov. 19th by an erupting filament of magnetism in the sun's northern hemisphere”. The solar storm is likely to sideswipe the Earth, which may mitigate some of the more harmful effects.

Solar storm to strike the Earth on Nov 22

While G1-class solar storms are not always the strongest, they can still cause a significant amount of threats for the Earth. It is capable of causing disruption in radio waves which can result in a radio blackout. This can also impact GPS systems and wireless communication systems. As a result, flight timings can be delayed and ship transportation can be affected.

On the other hand, the strongest solar storms can damage satellites, impact mobile networks and internet connectivity as well as cause power grid failure. Although humans will not be directly impacted by the radiation, due to disruptions to emergency services and power outages at places of high importance, it can still cause a high number of deaths.

How are these solar storms predicted ahead of time

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitors the Sun for the possibility of any such solar storms. It uses its DSCOVR satellite to observe any new sunspot formation and solar flare eruptions. It also monitors for any CME released in space towards the Earth. The recovered data is then run through the Space Weather Prediction Center and the final analysis is prepared. The different measurements are done on temperature, speed, density, degree of orientation and frequency of the solar particles.

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First Published Date: 22 Nov, 11:32 IST