‘Severe’ solar storm has potential to trigger northern lights, causing stunning display of colors visible from parts of US
A rare solar storm is heading towards Earth.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a rare G4 geomagnetic storm watch, marking the first storm of this magnitude in nearly 20 years.
The storm comes after days of solar flares that sent bursts of plasma and magnetic fields toward Earth, setting off a clock that could trigger bright light shows and communications blackouts as a result of events occurring in space.
NOAA used the Space Weather Scale to communicate the severity of the storm to the public. The tool identifies three types of current and future environmental disruptions: geomagnetic storms, solar radiation storms, and radio blackouts.
Related: Solar Storm May Trigger Northern Lights as Far South as Alabama – How to Take Photos with Your Phone
In fact, the G4 geomagnetic storm is described as “severe”, the second strongest magnitude on the scale (just below G5: “extreme”). The scale also details possible effects at each level, in addition to how events occur and the intensity of physical causes.
There are three areas that could see the effects of geomagnetic storms, both on Earth and in space: power systems, spacecraft operations, and other systems such as satellite navigation or radio frequency disruptions.
Effects that fall under the “other systems” field include visibility of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. The clarity and perspective of the rare color image depends on the category of the storm.
Read on to learn more about the 2024 solar storm watch in addition to its impacts on Earth.
What is a geomagnetic storm?
Getty
Illustration of a coronal mass ejection impacting Earth’s atmosphere.
NOAA defines geomagnetic storms as “a major disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind to the space environment surrounding the Earth.”
In simple terms, this storm is a disturbance in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. It is caused, in part, by solar flares, which NASA defines as “an intense burst of radiation resulting from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.”
This particular storm was also caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or rapidly moving plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona to Earth due to solar winds. Storms may last for several days, but will mainly fall within 12 to 48 hours.
Related: How Will the Jupiter-Uranus Conjunction Affect You According to Your Zodiac Sign?
When will the solar storm hit the USA?
Getty
3D illustration close-up of the star of our solar system. Nebula gases coming from the surface of the Sun.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center released its solar storm observation for the night of May 9. However, the “severe” G4 geomagnetic storm is predicted to shake the Earth on the evening of May 10 and last until May 12.
Not since January 2005 has the agency issued a watch alert for a geomagnetic storm of this magnitude. The warning came after “at least five flares associated with CMEs that appeared to be directed at Earth,” according to NOAA’s report.
Will the solar storm affect us on Earth?
Fortunately, people have nothing to worry about when the solar storm monitoring system is activated. NASA emphasizes that despite its powerful magnitude, harmful radiation from solar flares “cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground.”
However, the G4 storm is considered “severe” because it has the potential to cause technology issues and potential communications outages on Earth. (Note that G5 storms are the maximum magnitude of these storms and may have different impacts as a result.)
As NOAA notes, possible consequences of the G4 storm include power system complications such as “widespread voltage control issues.” Additionally, “some protective systems will inadvertently remove important assets from the grid.”
The agency writes that spacecraft operations “may experience charging and tracking issues on the surface,” adding: “Corrections may be required for orientation issues.” Other disturbances in the Earth’s ground may affect satellite and low-frequency radio navigation.
Related: 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake in New Jersey Shocks the East Coast – Here’s the Latest Information
Could a solar storm trigger the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights can be triggered by solar storms. While this is technically not an impact on Earth, humans will reap the benefits of this stunning display from the planet’s soil.
However, the visibility of the lights, also known as the aurora borealis, depends on several factors; one of which is location on Earth. Various parts of the United States will have the chance to see “spectacular aurora displays.”
Typically, the northern lights are best viewed during the winter months from high northern latitudes in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia. According to the NOAA scale, this storm is predicted to be visible from Northern California and southern states such as Alabama.
Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for more People news!
Read the original article about people.