A giant solar storm is approaching Earth and threatens global communication

The sun has entered a new cycle of solar activity, and scientists expect a strong geomagnetic storm to occur in the coming days. On Tuesday (10/1), the star released the strongest flare since 2017 through the spot AR3842. The spot is now facing Earth and has launched a mass coronal ejection targeting the planet.

This means that a strong storm is approaching the Earth’s surface, which could cause radio blackouts and loss of communications on the sunny side of Earth. Regarding technological influences, they are possible, but they can be controlled.

The most prominent geomagnetic storm is the aurora borealis, which can be seen at low latitudes in the United States, Scandinavia, Great Britain and Ireland. In the south, the lights will be visible in Australia, Tasmania and the South Island of New Zealand.

Solar flares are massive releases of energy from the Sun, associated with sunspots. It is darker because it is cooler than its surroundings, but it is more magnetic. The spots’ magnetic field may be 2,500 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field and much stronger than the rest of the Sun.

Flares are also associated with coronal mass ejections, when electrically charged plasma is shot from the Sun at high speed into interplanetary space.

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