New Delhi: NASA and weather experts have alerted that a solar storm can hit the Earth today, causing a minor blackout of radio and GPS signals.
The gradual increase in space activities, especially solar storms, are monitored by space experts daily, who have now alerted that a solar storm is expected to hit the Earth due to a coronal mass ejection. The solar storms were released by a CME that occurred on November 27, according to the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
They could also combine to form a ‘cannibal’ CME, sparking an even stronger geomagnetic storm. The biggest CME was caused by an M-class flare on Wednesday. Solar flares are caused when large loops of plasma on the sun’s surface’snap’ like an elastic band, firing electromagnetic particles into space.
A Direct Hit! The impressive #solarstorm launched in the Earth-strike zone has been modeled by NASA. The storm is predicted to hit Earth by midday December 1. Along with two earlier storms already en route means we have a 1,2,3-punch. If the magnetic field is oriented correctly,… pic.twitter.com/XLCAbmjXZ7
— Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) November 29, 2023
Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are massive clouds of charged particles hurled from the sun. These particles can wreak havoc on Earth’s technological infrastructure, disrupting satellite communications and radio signals. While the upcoming solar storm is expected to be relatively mild, it could still cause minor disruptions to high-latitude communication systems.
Despite the potential risks, solar storms generally pose no direct threat to human health. However, extremely powerful solar flares can emit harmful radiation capable of affecting living organisms. Fortunately, Earth’s protective atmosphere shields us from the brunt of this radiation, minimizing its impact on humans.
