US officials have stated that a massive plasma ball detached from the Sun, along with its magnetic field, could hit Earth and cause auroras visible from different locations. The warning mentioned that these storms could disrupt satellites in Earth’s orbit and cause disruptions in radio signals and GPS systems.
A new solar storm threat is looming. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center warned that “Current expectations indicate that the storm could impact the Eastern Time Zone in the morning or noon hours and could last until the next day.”
The coronal mass ejection (CME) ejected from the Sun is approaching Earth at a speed of 4 million kilometers per hour. Due to this, authorities issued a geomagnetic storm warning at G4 level. G4 level is one level below the highest storm level, G5. However, the full intensity of the storm will not be clear until the impact moment.
When CMEs hit Earth’s magnetosphere, geomagnetic storms occur. These storms can disrupt satellites in Earth’s orbit and cause disruptions in radio signals and GPS systems. Moreover, these storms can lead to power outages in electrical grids. As a result of the storms, it was noted that the levels of approximately 5,000 satellites in orbit may need to be readjusted. The storms can expand the ionosphere, causing satellites to slow down and deviate from their orbit. Authorities suggest that these auroras can be best observed in dark areas away from city lights. Digital cameras and phones can capture auroras that are not visible to the naked eye.
A geomagnetic storm, also known as a solar storm, is an event where a solar wind shock wave interacting with Earth’s magnetic field or a cloud of magnetic field causes a temporary disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere.