After the explosion of a “dead” sunspot, a geomagnetic storm is heading towards Earth. He will meet us on Thursday.
Just a few days before Easter, a solar storm is expected to hit Earth on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 1 pm CEST. The plasma ball was triggered by the explosion of the “dead” sunspot AR2987, reports “Spaceweather”.
What is behind this spectacular natural phenomenon? >>>
The supposedly harmless natural phenomenon can also have extremely unpleasant consequences. As solar storms not only threaten energy supplies, they can also result in a global internet meltdown. Radio and mobile phone networks can also be disrupted – a blackout is imminent. The reason for this is electrically charged particles that reach Earth through the eruptions.
cosmic rays
At the same time, cosmic radiation reaches deeper layers of the air. It can disrupt electronics on planes, and air travelers are bombarded with higher doses of radiation. To avoid this, planes must avoid polar routes during strong solar storms. However, solar storms do not directly affect the human body, because life on the ground is protected by the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field.
Sunspots are dark regions on the surface of the sun. They are caused by a strong magnetic flux from within the sun. These spots are temporary and can last for hours to months.
The idea of a “dead” sunspot is more poetic than scientific, Philip Judge, a solar physicist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) High Altitude Observatory, told Live Science. But convection from the sun breaks up these spots, and every now and then they can wake up again – which is the case with AR2987.
According to US weather experts, the geomagnetic storm will likely be in the G1 category and therefore have less dramatic effects on Earth. The scaleThe US weather agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rates storms from 1 to 5, level 1 is a “small” storm.
Northern Lights in the UK
There is no risk to electrical networks or satellites in this category. Instead, extensive northern lights are possible up to 55 degrees latitude – and therefore, among other things, at the level of Glasgow.
Only on Sunday did a G3-category solar storm make landfall. Among other things, it triggers an aurora borealis on the border between Canada and the US. Also, the ham radio was jammed. Videos show the lights:
high solar activity
In general, solar activity has increased recently. She is currently in the 25th cycle, the so-called “awakening phase”. The Sun is currently in its 25th solar cycle, the 25th since official observations began in 1755. The number of sunspots during this cycle is increasing and is expected to peak in 2025.
130 million people without electricity
Previous solar storms give an idea of what could happen to humanity in the next few years. In late October 2003, for example, lights in the city of Malmo in southern Sweden went out for an hour as a result of a solar storm. At the same time, the Japanese space agency JAXA lost contact with two of its satellites.
In March 1989, a geomagnetic storm caused a sensation, crippling the electrical grid in the Canadian province of Quebec and causing chaos as traffic control systems, airport electrical systems and district heating supplies failed. Six million people were without electricity for nine hours.
In the NAS study, the authors modeled how such a super eruption would affect the United States today. The results are shocking: currents flowing through the high-voltage network would quickly destroy 300 transformers in key positions. In just 90 seconds, 130 million people in North America would be without electricity.
kiky navigation account Time12.04.2022, 10:13| Act: 04/12/2022, 11:52