WARNING! Huge Solar Storm could trigger scary Geomagnetic Storm today, August 18 | Tech News

WARNING! Huge Solar Storm could trigger scary Geomagnetic Storm today, August 18

The Solar Storm is expected to hit Earth today, August 18 and it will trigger a scary Geomagnetic Storm. Here’s more about it.

By: SHAURYA TOMER
| Updated on: Aug 18 2022, 09:54 IST
WARNING! Solar Storm to hit Earth soon
solar storm
1/5 According to Spaceweather.com’s report, the new sunspot is so huge that it is even changing the way the sun vibrates. The Space Weather Prediction Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that the geomagnetic field around Earth would be unsettled over the weekend which could disrupt the radio-magnetic sphere. (nasa.gov)
solar storm
2/5 Spaceweather.com said, “A high speed stream of solar wind is approaching Earth. Estimated time of arrival: Aug. 9th. The gaseous material is flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.” (SDO/NASA)
solar storm
3/5 Solar storms occur due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) that is set off on the surface of the Sun. As per the K-index, which measures the magnetic field around the Earth, solar storms are divided into 5 classes from G-1 to G-5. The G-1 is the lowest impact solar G5 is given to the most severe solar storms. (Pixabay)
solar storm
4/5 According to NASA, Sunspots are dark areas on the solar surface which contain strong magnetic fields that are constantly shifting and can form and dissipate over periods of days or weeks. They occur when strong magnetic fields emerge through the solar surface and allow the area to cool slightly. (Pixabay)
solar storm
5/5 When solar flares hit Earth, they interact with the Earth’s electromagnetic field to cause a Geomagnetic storm. It may cause blackouts, GPS problems. However, if the solar storm is big enough, it can wreak havoc on all the earth's technological infrastructure. It is also the reason behind the stunning night-sky phenomenon that we know as Auroras or Northern Lights. (Pixabay)
solar storm
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A solar storm is expected to hit Earth today, August 18, 2022 and the impact will spark a Geomagnetic storm here. (NASA)

Earth will be hit by a solar storm today, Thursday, August 18. The solar storm is said to be generated through a Cannibal Coronal Mass Ejection that was shot from the Sun's atmosphere, resulting in high-speed solar winds making their way to Earth. 2 CMEs were released from the Sun's surface due to dark plasma eruption on August 14. While one was slow the other was ejected at higher speeds and it cannibalised the one in the front. The combined solar storm is now hurtling towards Earth and it will spark a scary Geomagnetic storm here.

According to spaceweather.com, “Travelling faster than 600 kmps, the plume tore through the Sun's outer atmosphere, creating a coronal mass ejection (CME). Images from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) confirm that the CME has an Earth-directed component.”

The high-speed solar winds interact with the Earth's electromagnetic field and cause the formation of Geomagnetic storms. According to NASA, a geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere which occurs when there is a strong exchange of energy from the solar wind in the space above Earth.

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Solar storms are divided into 5 classes from G-1 to G-5. The G-1 is the lowest impact solar G5 is given to the most severe solar storms.

When a solar storm hits the Earth's magnetic field, the resultant geomagnetic storm can kill radio communications and affect the power grid, even causing blackouts with homes left without electricity. It can cause power and radio blackouts for several hours or even days. However, electricity grid problems occur only if the solar flare is extremely strong.

On the other hand, solar storms also cause an extremely beautiful night-sky phenomenon known as Auroras or Northern Lights, which attract astronomers, sky watchers as well as others with stunning streaks of colour across the night sky.

The frequency of solar flares is set to increase in the coming years as the Sun reaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, likely to be around 2025.

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First Published Date: 18 Aug, 09:54 IST
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