Two Solar Storms To Hit Earth Today; What Will Be The Likely Impact?

New Delhi: Two massive solar storms are on collision course with Earth.

According to scientists, the solar storms will hit our planet around 5.30 pm on Friday.

Consequently, the charged particles may influence magnetic field of our planet, which could spark beautiful auroras that may be visible from around the world.

In extreme cases and in higher latitudes, ionised particles could disrupt power and communication infrastructure on the surface of Earth besides affecting satellites and impacting the global positioning system.

“Our Sun celebrates July 4 (US Independence Day) with its own special fireworks! We have two partly Earth-directed solar storms (aka CMEs) on their way. The second storm will catch up to the first giving us a 1,2-punch. Model predictions show impact likely on July 7,” Space Weather physicist Tamitha Skov tweeted on July 5.

Our #Sun celebrates #July4 with its own special fireworks! We have two partly Earth-directed #solarstorms (aka CMEs) on their way. The second storm will catch up to the first giving us a 1,2-punch. Model predictions show impact likely July 7. I’ll post NASA model runs next. pic.twitter.com/gtJwgcYS4Z

— Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) July 5, 2023

The physicist shared footage of both Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona which was recorded by SOHO’s Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment (LASCO).

NASA’s has predicted an impact before noon on July 7 UTC (5.30 pm IST). The first storm is slower and will mainly go northeast. The second is faster and more of a direct hit.

According to Nasa, Sun constantly emits solar material into space – in a steady flow and, sometimes, more energetic bursts from solar eruptions — called solar storms.

The solar storm in 1989 caused electrical blackouts across Quebec, in Canada, for 12 hours, according to NASA.

The most intense solar storm on record, known as the Carrington Event in 1859, sparked fires at telegraph stations and prevented messages from being sent.