Solar storms to batter earth this week
Solar storms to disrupt electrical communications such as GPS and other satellite related services
A sudden and dramatic release of energy through a break in the Sun’s chromosphere in the region of a sunspot, may last from a few minutes to a few hours. Following an intense solar flare (electron density 1011 compared with 108 in solar quiet times) the ionization in Earth’s atmosphere may increase by several orders of magnitude leading to effects such as bright aurorae, magnetic solar storms, and radio interference. Solar flares are classified on a scale of importance ranging from 3+ (largest area) to 1−(smallest area). The largest solar flares eject a mass of about 10 billion tons at a speed of roughly 1,500 km/s.
So, if your GPS stops working in the next few days, blame solar storms. Following three large explosions from the sun recently, US government scientists are expecting a larger solar event this week—and warn that satellite, telecommunications, and electric equipment, including GPS, could be disrupted. “The magnetic storm that is soon to develop probably will be in the moderate to strong level,” says one space weather scientist.
In addition to potentially disrupting communications, this week’s solar storms could produce an aurora visible in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Reuters notes that a 1989 solar storm took down a power grid in Canada, but disruptions that major are rare. This storm should be relatively minor in comparison, likely “a two or three out of five on the NOAA Space Weather Scale,” says the scientist.
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Seriously? I spend most of my life in Wisconsin wishing to see the aurora, and now that I’m in the deep south it happens?
I love the look of Spanish moss, but I’d be more than happy to trade it for a day to see the aurora.
Damn, wish I were up north this coming week.
That would be cool to see, but I’m happy as a clam at high tide here in the south this week. Our heat wave has finally taken a break and being outside doesn’t feel like divine punishment anymore.
Nice to know that the heat here is real, not imaginary !